Automated system for facilitating management of casino game table player rating information

ABSTRACT

Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating player tracking activities at a casino gaming table which includes a plurality of player stations. One aspect is directed to different techniques for automating the various manual processes involved in the rating of a player of a table game. Another aspect is directed to different embodiments for automatically starting, suspending, resuming and/or ending player tracking sessions at one or more table games.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/858,046 (Attorney Docket No.IGT1P430P/P-1256PROV), naming Moser, et al. as inventors, and filed Nov.10, 2006, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to playertracking services and player rating services implemented in table gameenvironments.

In general, casino operators have an interest in collecting theinformation relating to their patrons (e.g., players). Conventionally,such information may include player tracking data relating to individualplayer activities and/or other characteristics. As an incentive to getplayers to elect to have their game play activities tracked, casinooperators typically offer players membership in player tracking programswhich provide various rewards to the players.

Typically, player tracking programs provide rewards to players which arecommensurate with each player's level of patronage (e.g., to theplayer's playing frequency and/or total amount of game plays at a givencasino). Player tracking rewards may include free meals, free lodgingand/or free entertainment. These rewards may help to sustain a gameplayer's interest in additional game play during a visit to a gamingestablishment and may entice a player to visit a gaming establishment topartake in various gaming activities.

In general, player tracking programs may be applied to any game ofchance offered at a gaming establishment. In particular, player trackingprograms are very popular with players of mechanical slot gamingmachines and video slot gaming machines. In a gaming machine, a playertracking program is implemented using a player tracking unit installedin the gaming machine and in communication with a remote player trackingserver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or computerprogram products for facilitating player rating activities at a casinogaming table. At least one embodiment may include functionality for:automatically detecting a presence of a first player at a first gamingtable; automatically initiating at least one procedure for closing aplayer rating session associated with the first player in response to adetermination that a first set of criteria has been satisfied; andautomatically computing or determining player rating informationrelating to the first player's player rating session, wherein the playerrating information includes first player walk amount informationrelating to an estimate of wagering tokens belonging to the first playerat a time of closing of the first player's player rating session. In atleast one embodiment, the player rating information may include one ormore of the following (or combinations thereof): first player game speedinformation relating to an estimated speed of game play by the firstplayer at the first gaming table, and/or first player timing informationrelating to an estimated amount of time that the first player spent atthe first gaming table.

At least one embodiment may include functionality for identifying one ormore wagering tokens which are within a first region of the first gamingtable, wherein the first region includes at least one region portionwhich has not been allocated for wagering activity.

At least one embodiment may include functionality for identifying afirst spatial region associated with the first player, wherein the firstspatial region includes a first region portion corresponding to awagering token placement area for use table game wagering, and includesa second region portion which is not used for table game wagering; andautomatically detecting one or more wagering tokens located within thesecond region portion.

At least one embodiment may include functionality for automaticallytracking (e.g., in real time and/or non-real time) information relatingto a first portion of wagering tokens belonging to the first player,wherein the first portion of wagering tokens includes at least onewagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.

At least one embodiment may include functionality for automaticallytracking amounts wagered by the first player during game play at thefirst gaming table; and/or automatically tracking winnings awarded tothe first player during game play at the first gaming table.

At least one embodiment may include functionality for: automaticallycomputing or determining player game speed information relating to arate or speed of game play conducted at the first gaming table during afirst time interval; automatically computing or determining playerranking information relating to the first player using at least aportion of the player rating information; automatically computing ordetermining player skill information relating to the first player usingat least a portion of the player rating information; and/orautomatically computing or determining player comp value informationrelating to the first player using at least a portion of the playerrating information.

At least one embodiment may include functionality for: automaticallytracking buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the firstplayer; automatically tracking marker-in activity at the first gamingtable relating to the first player; automatically tracking chips outactivity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; andautomatically tracking redemption activity at the first gaming tablerelating to the first player.

At least one embodiment may include functionality for: tracking buy-inactivity at the first gaming table relating to the first player;tracking marker-in activity at the first gaming table relating to thefirst player; tracking chips out activity at the first gaming tablerelating to the first player; and/or tracking redemption activity at thefirst gaming table relating to the first player.

Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or computerprogram products for facilitating player rating activities at a casinogaming table. At least one embodiment may include functionality for:automatically detecting a presence of a first player at the gamingtable; determining a first set of criteria relating to initiation of aplayer rating session for the first player; automatically determiningwhether the first set of criteria has been satisfied; delayinginitiation of the player rating session for the first player in responseto a determination that the first set of criteria has not beensatisfied; and automatically initiating the player rating session forthe first player in response to a determination that the first set ofcriteria has been satisfied.

Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or computerprogram products for facilitating player rating activities at a casinogaming table. At least one embodiment may include functionality for:automatically detecting a presence of a first player at the gamingtable; initiating a player rating session for the first player;determining a first set of criteria relating to suspension of the playerrating session for the first player; automatically determining whetherthe first set of criteria has been satisfied; and automaticallysuspending the player rating session for the first player in response toa determination that the first set of criteria has been satisfied.Additionally, at least one embodiment may include functionality for:determining a second set of criteria relating to resumption of thesuspended player rating session for the first player; automaticallydetermining whether the second set of criteria has been satisfied; andautomatically resuming the suspended player rating session for the firstplayer in response to a determination that the second set of criteriahas been satisfied.

Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or computerprogram products for facilitating player rating activities at a casinogaming table. At least one embodiment may include functionality for:automatically detecting a presence of a first player at the gamingtable; initiating a player rating session for the first player;determining a first set of criteria relating to ending of the playerrating session for the first player; automatically determining whetherthe first set of criteria has been satisfied; and automatically endingthe player rating session for the first player in response to adetermination that the first set of criteria has been satisfied.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the various aspects ofthe present invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of its preferred embodiments, which description should betaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a gaming table system 100 in accordance witha specific embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a gaming table system 200 in accordance witha different embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a specific embodiment of an intelligentgaming table system 300.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary intelligent gamingtable system 400 in accordance with a specific embodiment.

FIG. 5A shows a flow diagram of a Gaming table Player Tracking SessionManagement Procedure in accordance with a specific embodiment.

FIG. 5B shows a flow diagram of a Gaming Table Player Rating SessionManagement Procedure in accordance with a specific embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of the components of a smart card 650that may be used in the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a simplified block diagram of various components which maybe used for implementing a personal player device (PPD) in accordancewith the specific embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of an intelligent gaming tablesystem 800 in accordance with a specific embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram illustrating components of a gaming system900 which may be used for implementing various aspects of exampleembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One or more different inventions may be described in the presentapplication. Further, for one or more of the invention(s) describedherein, numerous embodiments may be described in this patentapplication, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. Thedescribed embodiments are not intended to be limiting in any sense. Oneor more of the invention(s) may be widely applicable to numerousembodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice one or more of the invention(s), and it is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural,logical, software, electrical and other changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the one or more of the invention(s).Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that the one ormore of the invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications andalterations. Particular features of one or more of the invention(s) maybe described with reference to one or more particular embodiments orfigures that form a part of the present disclosure, and in which areshown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments of one or more ofthe invention(s). It should be understood, however, that such featuresare not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments orfigures with reference to which they are described. The presentdisclosure is neither a literal description of all embodiments of one ormore of the invention(s) nor a listing of features of one or more of theinvention(s) that must be present in all embodiments.

Headings of sections provided in this patent application and the titleof this patent application are for convenience only, and are not to betaken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

Devices that are in communication with each other need not be incontinuous communication with each other, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with eachother may communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required. Tothe contrary, a variety of optional components are described toillustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of one or more ofthe invention(s).

Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the likemay be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods andalgorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In otherwords, any sequence or order of steps that may be described in thispatent application does not, in and of itself, indicate a requirementthat the steps be performed in that order. The steps of describedprocesses may be performed in any order practical. Further, some stepsmay be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied asoccurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described afterthe other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by itsdepiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process isexclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not implythat the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to one ormore of the invention(s), and does not imply that the illustratedprocess is preferred.

When a single device or article is described, it will be readilyapparent that more than one device/article (whether or not theycooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly,where more than one device or article is described (whether or not theycooperate), it will be readily apparent that a single device/article maybe used in place of the more than one device or article.

The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternativelyembodied by one or more other devices that are not explicitly describedas having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of one ormore of the invention(s) need not include the device itself.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a gaming table system 100 in accordance witha specific embodiment. In the specific example of FIG. 1, gaming table10 is illustrated as a blackjack table embodiment. However, according todifferent embodiments (not shown) gaming table 10 may be configured fora variety of different types of table games such as, for example,blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, baccarat, and/or other types ofcasino table games generally known to one having ordinary skill in theart.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, gaming table 10 includes seven playerpositions 11 a-11 g. A system for tracking play of players at the table,as well as providing information pertaining to the players, may includea media reader 12 located adjacent a dealer position 13. The mediareader may be any type that is capable of reading or obtaininginformation from cards, media or other devices issued by the casino. Forexample, according to specific embodiments media reader 12 may includefor example, a magnetic reader for reading magnetic stripes on cards; anelectronic card reader for reading electronic cards and/or for detectingwireless signals (such as, for example RFID signals); a port forreceiving electronic keys; or any combination thereof.

In an alternate embodiment (not shown), a separate media reader may beprovided at each of the different player positions at gaming table 10.Each media reader may be coupled to a central computer 14 via acommunication channel 15, such as, for example, cables, wires, fiberoptics, wireless signals, radio waves, etc. The central computer may beoperable to keep track of various information relating to the variousplayers' accounts. Such information may include, for example, playertracking information.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a gaming table system 200 in accordance witha different embodiment. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2,gaming table system 200 includes a conventionally shaped gaming table 21for play of one or more type of table games which, for example, mayinclude non-card based table games and/or card-based table games.

The gaming table 21 of this type is generally located in a casino or thelike, and typically includes a dealer station 22, and a plurality ofplayer stations 23-27, surrounding the dealer station. At the playerstations, the players sit or stand during game play, while at the dealerstation, the card dealer almost always stands. The dealer also deals thecards and takes the player's bets, on behalf of the casino, from the onemore players who are participating in the table game.

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, at least one interactivedisplay terminal 30 is included at the gaming table 21. For example, inthis particular example a respective display terminal 30-34 dedicated toeach player station 23-27 at gaming table 21. According to specificembodiments, each of these interactive display terminals 30-34 may beoperable to display informational content relating to advertising,player tracking information, news, etc. Additionally, each of theseinteractive display terminals 30-34 may be operable to allow players toaccess additional bonus games and/or bonus awards at each of theirrespective, dedicated player stations.

In at least one embodiment, the display terminals are integrated with abackend player tracking system which, for example, may be operable tomanage and store various types of information including, for example,player tracking information.

According to specific embodiments, one or more of the interactive playerdisplay terminals 30-34 can be applied to deliver a variety of differenttypes of information (e.g., advertising, news, player trackinginformation, bonus games, etc.) directly to the player at theirrespective player station 23-27. In one embodiment, one or more of theinteractive player display terminals 30-34 may be operable to functionas a player tracking terminal. In one embodiment, a display terminal maybe operable to facilitate player access to his or her accounts via entryof personal identification numbers into a touch screen on the display.

In some embodiments, the gaming table system 200 may include one or moremedia reader(s) (e.g., 202 a-e) capable of reading, receiving signals,and/or obtaining information from media (e.g., player tracking cards)and/or devices such as those issued by the casino. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 2, a separate media reader may be provided for eachplayer station at gaming table 22. In at least one alternate embodiment,gaming table system 200 may include one or more media reader(s) (e.g.,202 a-e), and may not include player display terminals 30-34. Thus, forexample, in one such alternate embodiment, gaming table 21 may resemblea traditional live gaming table which includes felt top and not displayterminals. In such an embodiment, media reader(s) (e.g., 202 a-e) may beplaced or located in a non-visible location such as, for example, underthe gaming table top, within the body of the gaming table housing, etc.

In a specific embodiment, a media reader at gaming table system 200 maybe operable to automatically detect wireless signals (e.g., 802.11(WiFi), 802.15 (including Bluetooth™), 802.16 (WiMax), 802.22, Cellularstandards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, Radio Frequency (e.g., RFID),Infrared, Near Field Magnetics, etc.) from one or more wireless devices(such as, for example, an RFID-enabled player tracking card) which, forexample, are in the possession of players at the gaming table. Further,the media reader may be operable to utilize the detected RFID signals todetermine the identity of individual players associated with each of thedifferent player tracking cards. The media reader may also be operableto utilize the detected RFID signals to access additional information(e.g., player tracking information) from remote servers (e.g., playertracking server). In at least one embodiment, the display terminalsand/or media readers may be operated in association with player trackingnetworks such as those shown and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,665,961and 6,319,125, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

According to various embodiments, the gaming table system 200 may beused to allow a player at an associated player station (e.g., ratherthan the dealer or pit boss) to log in and out at one of player stations23-27. In a specific embodiment, the display terminal associated with aplayer's station may be operable to function as the player's ownpersonal player tracking kiosk right at the gaming table.

It will be appreciated that conventional techniques for monitoringplayer tracking activity at table games typically involve a number ofmanually implemented processes. For example, using conventional playertracking mechanisms, if a player wishes to initiate a player trackingsession at a given table game, the player (or dealer) is typicallyrequired to manually swipe or insert the player's player tracking cardinto an appropriate card reader that the gaming table. Additionally,when the player desires to end the player tracking session, anothermanual operation must typically be performed by the player, dealerand/or other casino employee to signal to the player tracking systemthat the player tracking session has ended. Typically, once a playertracking session has been initiated for a player at a table game, thefloor supervisor manually tracks the player's wagers and time played atthe table game. Further, it will be appreciated that, historicallyspeaking, in order to close a rating for given player tracking session,the player's walk amount information (e.g., the amount and/or value ofchips that the player walked away with) must typically be manuallydetermined and entered by the floor supervisor.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is directed todifferent embodiments for automating the various manual processesinvolved in the rating of a player of a table game. Another aspect ofthe present invention is directed to different embodiments forautomatically starting, suspending, resuming and/or ending playertracking sessions at one or more table games.

For example, according to some conventional embodiments, the starting ofa player tracking session for a particular player at a table gametypically occurs immediately after the player's player tracking card hasbeen swiped or inserted into the player tracking card reader that thetable game. In other conventional embodiments a player may present hisplayer tracking card to the dealer or floor supervisor in order toinitiate a player tracking session at the table game.

According to one conventional technique, the closing of an open oractive player rating session for a player at a gaming table may occur asfollows. The player (associated with the open player rating session)gets up and walks away from the gaming table, taking his/her chips. Whenthe floor supervisor identifies that the player has walked, the floorsupervisor will close the rating on that player, and estimate how manychips the player walked with. Accordingly, it will be appreciated thatthis process involves a manual and somewhat subjective mechanism,currently.

However, with the introduction of “smart” player tracking cards (suchas, for example, RFID-enabled player tracking cards) and “smart” gamingtable media readers such as those described herein, it is now possiblefor gaming table systems to automatically detect the presence of playertracking cards and to automatically determine the identities of playersat the table game who are registered members of the casino's playertracking system. Such automated detection of player tracking cardsand/or player identities at gaming tables introduces additional issuessuch as, for example, when to start, suspend and/or end a given playertracking session at the gaming table.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is directed todifferent embodiments for detecting and interpreting various events inorder, for example, to automate the starting, pausing, and/or ending ofplayer tracking sessions at table games. Another aspect is directed todifferent embodiments for automatically tracking and/or determining aplayer's wagers and/or time played at a gaming table.

According to a specific embodiment, a “smart” player tracking card (suchas, for example, a card with RFID technology embedded therein) may beused in combination with a media reader at a table game to uniquelyidentify a table game player, and/or to record the time a player startsplaying at any position on a table. In one embodiment, a playeroccupying a specific seat or player station position at a gaming tablemay be automatically and passively detected without requiring action onthe part of a player or dealer. For example, the player tracking cardcould be in the player's wallet when the player sits at a gaming table.Another embodiment may include a player temporarily placing his/herplayer card on a defined area of a table game.

FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of an intelligent gaming tablesystem 800 in accordance with a specific embodiment. As illustrated inthe embodiment of FIG. 8, intelligent gaming table system 800 includes(e.g., within gaming table housing 810) a master table controller (MTC)801, and a plurality of player station systems (e.g., 812 a-e) which,for example, may be connected to the MTC 801 via at least one switch orhub 808. In at least one embodiment, master table controller 801 mayinclude at least one processor or CPU 802, and memory 804. Additionally,as illustrated in the example of FIG. 8, intelligent gaming table system800 may also include one or more interfaces 806 for communicating withother devices and/or systems in the casino network 820.

In at least one embodiment, a separate player station system may beprovided at each player station at the gaming table. According tospecific embodiments, each player station system may include a varietyof different electronic components, devices, and/or systems forproviding various types of functionality. For example, as shown in theembodiment of FIG. 8, player station system 812 c may comprise a varietyof different electronic components, devices, and/or systems including,but not limited to: a media detector/reader 832, a player trackingmanager 834, a wager and/or gaming chip tracking system 836, etc.According to a specific embodiment, media detector/reader 832, playertracking manager 834, and/or wager/gaming chip tracking system 836 mayeach be operable to communicate with each other and/or other devices ofthe gaming network.

Although not specifically illustrated in FIG. 8, each of the differentplayer station systems 812 a-e may include components, devices and/orsystems similar to that of player station system 812 c.

According to one embodiment, media detector/reader 832 may be operableto read, receive signals, and/or obtain information from various typesof media (e.g., player tracking cards) and/or other devices such asthose issued by the casino. For example, media detector/reader 832 maybe operable to automatically detect wireless signals (e.g., 802.11(WiFi), 802.15 (including Bluetooth™), 802.16 (WiMax), 802.22, Cellularstandards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, Radio Frequency (e.g., RFID),Infrared, Near Field Magnetics, etc.) from one or more wireless devices(such as, for example, an RFID-enabled player tracking card) which, forexample, are in the possession of players at the gaming table. The mediadetector/reader may also be operable to utilize the detected wirelesssignals to determine the identity of individual players associated witheach of the different player tracking cards. The media detector/readermay also be operable to utilize the detected wireless signals to accessadditional information (e.g., player tracking information) from remoteservers (e.g., player tracking server).

According to a specific embodiment, the media detector/reader may alsobe operable to determine the position or location of one or more playersat the gaming table, and/or able to identify a specific player stationwhich is occupied by a particular player at the gaming table.

In a specific embodiment, for example, where each player station at thegaming table includes a respective media detector/reader, each mediadetector/reader (e.g., 832) may be operable to detect media, devicesand/or signals which are associated only with a player occupying thatparticular player station (e.g., player station 812 c). Thus, forexample, according to a specific embodiment, the media detector/readerassociated with player station 812 c may be operable to detect and readan RFID-enabled card held by a player occupying player station 812 c,but may not be able to detect and/or read RFID-enabled cards held byplayers occupying player stations 812 a, 812 b, 812 d, and/or 812 e.Similarly, the media detector/reader associated with player station 812b may be operable to detect and read an RFID-enabled card held by aplayer occupying player station 812 b, but may not be able to detectand/or read RFID-enabled cards held by players occupying player station812 a, 812 c, 812 d, and/or 812 e.

In at least one embodiment, player tracking manager 834 may be operableto automatically manage various types of information, events and/oractivities associated with one or more player tracking sessions at thegaming table. According to a specific embodiment, such information,events and/or activities may include, for example, but are not limitedto:

-   -   accessing information from a player's player tracking card        (and/or other media);    -   accessing information from a remote servers (such as, for        example, a player tracking server);    -   determining an identity of a player at the gaming table;    -   starting a player tracking session;    -   suspending a player tracking session;    -   resuming a player tracking session;    -   ending a player tracking session;    -   recording player tracking events, activities and/or related        data;    -   generating or computing player tracking information;    -   determining a player's walk away amount;    -   determining theoretical wins;    -   determining buy-ins;    -   determining actual wins;    -   determining player movement (e.g., a player moving from one        player station at the gaming table to another);    -   determining multiple ratings for a player;    -   determining player skill;    -   determining game speed;    -   etc.

In at least one embodiment, wager/gaming chip tracking system 836 may beoperable to automatically manage various types of information, eventsand/or activities associated gaming chips (also referred to as wageringtokens) and/or wagering activities conducted at the gaming table.According to a specific embodiment, such information, events and/oractivities may include, for example, but are not limited to:

-   -   tracking player wagering activities and/or related information;    -   determining and/or tracking information relating to player        buy-in activities;    -   determining and/or tracking information relating to gaming chips        which a player currently has in his or her possession at the        gaming table (e.g., the amount and value of gaming chips within        the player's personal space at the gaming table);    -   determining and/or tracking information relating to a player's        walk away amount;    -   determining fills and/or credits;    -   determine betting anomalies (e.g., including pitching and/or        capping activity);    -   etc.

As used herein, the terms “gaming chip” and “wagering token” may be usedinterchangeably, and, in at least one embodiment, may refer to a chip,coin, and/or other type of token which may be used for various types ofcasino wagering activities, such as, for example, gaming table wagering.

In at least one embodiment, intelligent gaming table system 800 may alsoinclude components and/or devices for implementing at least a portion ofgaming table functionality described in one or more of the followingpatents, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety for all purposes: U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,742, entitled “GAMINGTABLE TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,548, entitled“GAMING CHIPS WITH ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS SCANNED BY ANTENNAS IN GAMINGCHIP PLACEMENT AREAS FOR TRACKING THE MOVEMENT OF GAMING CHIPS WITHIN ACASINO APPARATUS AND METHOD.”

For example, in one embodiment, intelligent gaming table system 800 mayinclude a system for tracking movement of gaming chips and/or forperforming other valuable functions. The system may be fully automatedand operable to automatically monitor and record selected gaming chiptransactions at the gaming table. In one embodiment, the system mayemploy use of gaming chips having transponders embedded therein. Suchgaming chips may be electronically identifiable and/or carryelectronically ascertainable information about the gaming chip. Thesystem may further have ongoing and/or “on-command” capabilities toprovide an instantaneous or real-time inventory of all (or selected)gaming chips at the gaming table such as, for example, gaming chips inthe possession of a particular player, gaming chips in the possession ofthe dealer, gaming chips located within a specified region (or regions)of the gaming table, etc. The system may also be capable of reportingthe total value of an identified selection of gaming chips.

By way of illustration, a specific embodiment of a gaming table systemmay include one or more RFID readers (e.g., either directional,designated, or a combination thereof) which may be hidden from view ofthe players. In one embodiment, each player station or position at thetable game may include a respective RFID reader which includes anantenna to detect the presence of a player's card and determine a uniqueidentifier for the detected card. Each RFID reader may be operable tocommunicate the card identifier to a player tracking or rating system.According to specific embodiments, the RFID reader may also be operableto detect when the player's card is moved or removed from a particularplayer station or player position at the gaming table.

According to specific embodiments, different types of RFID readers maybe utilized such as, for example, directional RFID readers, designatedRFID readers and/or some combination thereof. For example, in oneembodiment, a directional RFID reader could be used to establish adefinable space that can be monitored for detecting RFID antennas whichenter or exit the defined space. For example, a player carrying an RFIDenabled player tracking card sits at a seat (e.g., player station) at atable game. A directional RFID reader could detect that player, andassociate him/her to that particular player station. Additionally, in aspecific embodiment where the RFID reader is configured as a directionalRFID reader, a determination of when a player enters and leaves a seatarea may be tracked.

In at least some embodiments, a designated RFID reader could be used todefine a particular region on the gaming table for a player to place anRFID enabled smart card. Upon such placement, the player could beidentified and associated to a particular spot/seat/player station atthe gaming table. Additionally, in at least one embodiment where theRFID reader is configured as a designated RFID reader, a configurabletime out may be tracked, for example, based on activity or inactivity ofa particular player.

The tracked information may then be reported or communicated to a playertracking system. According to a specific embodiment, a player trackingsystem may be used to store various information relating to casinopatrons or players. Such information (herein referred to as playertracking information) may include player rating information, which, forexample, generally refers to information used by a casino to rate agiven player according to various criteria such as, for example,criteria which may be used to determine a player's theoretical or compvalue to a casino.

Additionally, in at least one embodiment, a player tracking session maybe used to collect various types of information relating to a player'spreferences, activities, game play, location, etc. Such information mayalso include player rating information generated during one or moreplayer rating sessions. Thus, in at least one embodiment, a playertracking session may include the generation and/or tracking of playerrating information for a given player.

FIG. 5A shows a flow diagram of a Gaming Table Player Tracking SessionManagement Procedure in accordance with a specific embodiment. It willbe appreciated that different embodiments of Gaming Table PlayerTracking Session Management Procedures may be implemented at differenttypes of table games, and may include at least some features other thanor different from those described with respect to the specificembodiment of FIG. 5A.

According to specific embodiments, multiple threads of the Gaming TablePlayer Tracking Session Management Procedure may be simultaneouslyrunning at a given gaming table. For example, in one embodiment, aseparate instance or thread of the Gaming table Player Tracking SessionManagement Procedure may be implemented at each player station (e.g.,23-27) of a gaming table.

For purposes of illustration, and example of the Gaming table PlayerTracking Session Management Procedure 500 will now be explained withreference to gaming table system 200. According to specific embodiments,one or more gaming tables may include functionality for detecting thepresence of a player at one of the gaming table's player stations. Suchfunctionality may be implemented using a variety of different types oftechnologies such as, for example: cameras, pressure sensors (e.g.,embedded in a seat, bumper, table top, etc.), motion detectors, imagesensors, signal detectors (e.g., RFID signal detectors), dealer and/orplayer input devices, etc.

For example, in a specific embodiment, Player A may be carrying his/herRFID-enabled player tracking card in his/her pocket, and chose to occupya seat at player station position 25 of gaming table system 200. Gamingtable system 200 may be operable to automatically and passively detect(502) the presence of Player A, for example, by detecting an RFID signaltransmitted from Player A's player tracking card. Thus, in at least oneimplementation, such player detection may be performed without requiringaction on the part of a player or dealer.

When the presence of Player A is detected (502) at the gaming table, adetermination may be made (504) as to whether Player A is a registeredmember of the casino's player tracking system. In one embodiment, thismay be accomplished, for example, using information from Player A'splayer tracking card. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 5A, if itis determined that Player A is a registered player tracking member, theplayer's identity may be determined (506). For example, Player A'splayer tracking card may transmit a unique identifier which may be usedto look up the player's identity and/or other information in a database,such as, for example, a player tracking system database.

In other embodiments, the presence of a player may be automatically andpassively detected, for example, using various types of sensors such as,for example, a motion sensor, a pressure sensor, etc. In at least someembodiments, there may be no unique signal or other information to helpidentify the player's identity.

According to various embodiments, if Player A's identity can not bedetermined, or if it is determined that Player A is not a registeredmember of the casino's player tracking system, an anonymous playertracking account may be created for Player A, for example, in order toallow one or more player rating sessions to be conducted for Player A atthe gaming table. In a particular embodiment, during a player ratingsession for Player A, various player rating information may be generatedfor Player A, and associated with the anonymous player tracking account.Further, at one or more occasions, Player A may be given the opportunityto assign his or her identity to the anonymous player tracking account,and/or to transfer at least a portion of the generated player ratinginformation (e.g., from the anonymous account) to a registered playertracking account.

In at least one embodiment, the gaming table may be operable todetermine (510) a position of Player A at the gaming table. Thus, forexample, in the present example, gaming table system 200 may be operableto determine that Player A is occupying player station 25. Suchinformation may be subsequently used, for example, when performingplayer tracking operations associated with Player A.

According to different embodiments, the gaming table system may beoperable to automatically initiate or start a new player trackingsession for a given player (e.g., Player A) based on the detection (512)of one or more in events. For example, in one embodiment, a playertracking session for Player A may be automatically started in responseto detecting the presence of the player at a given player station at thegaming table. In an alternate embodiment, a player tracking session forPlayer A may be automatically started upon detecting that Player A hasplaced his/her first wager (e.g., placed at least one gaming chip)within the player's assigned wager placement area (e.g., within thegaming chip placement circle 221 c of FIG. 2).

It will be appreciated that a variety of different events (and/or somecombination thereof) may be used to trigger the start or opening of aplayer tracking session for a given player. Such events may include, forexample, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

-   -   physical proximity of player and/or player tracking device        detected as satisfying predetermined criteria;    -   player tracking device detected within specified zone of player        station area;    -   player tracking device shown or handed to dealer and/or other        casino employee;    -   appropriate player input detected (e.g., player pushes button);    -   appropriate dealer input detected;    -   specified time constraints detected as being satisfied (e.g.,        begin player tracking session at next round of play);    -   gaming chip(s) placed detected within player's assigned wagering        region;    -   presence of player detected at player station;    -   detection of player's first wager being placed;    -   player location or position detected as satisfying predefined        criteria;    -   appropriate floor supervisor input detected;    -   player identity determined (e.g., through the use of directional        RFID;

through placement of player tracking media on a designated spot at atable game; etc.);

-   -   detection of continuous presence of player tracking media for a        predetermined amount of time;    -   etc.

Assuming that the appropriate event or events have been detected forstarting a player tracking session for Player A, a player trackingsession for Player A may then be started (514) or initiated. During theactive player tracking session, player tracking information relating toPlayer A may be automatically tracked and/or generated (516) by one ormore components of the gaming table system. According to a specificembodiment, once the player tracking session has been started, any wagerand/or game play activities detected as being associated with Player Amay be associated with the current player tracking session. According tospecific embodiments, such player tracking information may include, butis not limited to, one or more of the following types of information(and/or some combination thereof):

-   -   game play data;    -   wager data;    -   cards dealt/held/discarded;    -   timestamp information;    -   player station position;    -   player buy-in data;    -   side wager data;    -   player rating data;    -   session start time;    -   session end time;    -   cumulative time played;    -   information relating to gaming chips (e.g., types, amount,        value, etc.) detected as being within the player's personal        player space (e.g., within personal player space region 250,        FIG. 2);    -   determining theoretical win information;    -   determining buy-in information;    -   determining actual win information;    -   determining player movement information (e.g., a player moving        from player station at a gaming table to another player station        at the gaming table);    -   determining rating information (e.g., one or more types of        ratings) for a player;    -   determining player skill information;    -   determining game speed information;    -   other player-tracking related information generally known to one        having ordinary skill in the art;    -   etc.

According to specific embodiments, the gaming table system may beoperable to detect one or more events relating to the suspension and/orending of an active player session. For example, in one embodiment, thegaming table system may periodically check for events relating to thesuspension and/or ending of an active player session. Alternatively, aseparate or asynchronous process (e.g., an event detectionmanager/component) may be utilized for detecting various events such as,for example, those relating to the starting, suspending, resuming,and/or ending of one or more player tracking sessions at the gamingtable.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5A, if an event is detected (518) forsuspending Player A's active player tracking session, the current oractive player tracking session for Player A may be suspended (e.g.,temporarily suspended). In one embodiment, during a suspended playertracking session, no additional player tracking information is trackedor generated for that player.

According to specific embodiments, a variety of different events may beused to trigger the suspension of a player tracking session for a givenplayer. Such events may include, for example, but are not limited to,one or more of the following (and/or some combination thereof):

-   -   no detection of player at assigned player station;    -   no detection of player's player tracking device within        predetermined range;    -   player input;    -   dealer input;    -   time based events;    -   player detected as not being within predetermined range;    -   no player activity with specified time period;    -   player determined to be out of gaming chips;    -   etc.

For example, if a player inadvertently removes his/her player trackingdevice from a designated location of the gaming table for a brief periodof time, and/or for a predetermined number of rounds, and the playertracking device is subsequently returned to its former location, thegaming table system may be operable to merge consecutive periods ofactivity into the same player tracking session, including any roundstracked while the player's player tracking device was detected as beingabsent. In one embodiment, if a player moves to a different playerstation at the gaming table, the gaming table system may respond byswitching or modifying the player station identity associated with thatplayer's player tracking session in order to begin tracking informationassociated with the player's player tracking session at the new playerstation.

In at least one embodiment, a suspended player tracking session may beresumed or ended, depending upon the detection of one or moreappropriate events. For example, as shown in the example of FIG. 5A, ifan event is detected for resuming (522) the suspended Player A playertracking session, the player tracking session for Player A may beresumed (526) and/or re-activated, whereupon player tracking informationrelating to Player A may be automatically tracked and/or generated (516)by one or more components of the gaming table system.

According to specific embodiments, a variety of different events may beused to trigger the resuming of a player tracking session for a givenplayer. Such events may include, for example, but are not limited to,one or more of the following (and/or some combination thereof):

-   -   re-detection of player at assigned player station;    -   re-detection of player's player tracking device within        predetermined range;    -   player input;    -   dealer input;    -   time based events;    -   player detected as being within predetermined range;    -   player game play activity detected;    -   player wager activity detected;    -   etc.

Alternatively, if an event is detected for ending (524) the suspendedPlayer A player tracking session, the player tracking session for PlayerA may be ended (532) and/or closed. At that point the player trackingmanager (e.g., 834) may have (and/or may be able to calculate) alldesired player wager information such as, for example, turnover, averagewager, theoretical value, comp value, etc.

According to specific embodiments, a variety of different events may beused to trigger the ending of a player tracking session for a givenplayer. Such events may include, for example, but are not limited to,one or more of the following (and/or some combination thereof):

-   -   no detection of player at assigned player station;    -   no detection of player's player tracking device within        predetermined range;    -   player input;    -   dealer input;    -   time based events;    -   player detected as not being within predetermined range;    -   no player activity with specified time period;    -   player determined to be out of gaming chips;    -   timeout exceeded;    -   player detected at another location in the casino;    -   player tracking device detected at another location in the        casino;    -   etc.

According to a specific embodiment, the closing of the Player A playertracking session at the gaming table may include operations relating tothe closing of a Player A rating session, which, in turn, may includedetermining a current walk amount for Player A. For example, in oneembodiment, the gaming table system may include one or more componentsfor detecting gaming chips (e.g., belonging to a particular player)within a predetermined region or zone at the gaming table which, forexample, may be defined as that player's personal space. For example, asillustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, player station 25 hasassociated therewith a personal space region 250.

In at least one embodiment, each player station at the gaming table mayhave associated therewith its own unique personal player space region.In one embodiment, a wager/gaming chip tracking system (e.g., 836, FIG.8) may be operable to automatically identify and track the number and/orvalues of gaming chips which are located within a player's personalspace at the gaming table and/or which are located at other locations atthe gaming table, such as, for example, non-wagering areas of the gamingtable. In at least one embodiment, such functionality allows thetracking of player gaming chips on the table at all times, and not justwhen a wager is made. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, suchfunctionality allows the tracking of player gaming chips in non-wageringregions of the gaming table (e.g., such as, for example, regions otherthan the specifically designated wagering areas). For example, it may beused to automatically determine the amount and/or value of gaming chipswhich a player walked with, for example, based on the removal of chipsfrom the player's personal space. It may also be used to automaticallytrack player buy-in information, for example, based on the adding of newchips to the player's personal space and/or other criteria (e.g., chipsawarded to the player due to a win at the gaming table are not countedor included). Accordingly, it will be appreciated that suchfunctionality may help eliminate delays in closing a player ratingsession which traditionally have been associated with manual processes.

Automation of Player Rating Sessions at Gaming Tables

Various techniques described herein may be used to automaticallydetermine a player's wagers and time played at a gaming table. Forexample, as described herein, different player tracking mechanisms maybe used to detect the presence and/or location of a player (and/orpresence and location of a player's electronic player tracking card orother wireless device(s) associate with that player) within the casino.Additionally, different player tracking mechanisms may also be used todetect the presence, absence and/or location of a player (and/orpresence and location of a player's electronic player tracking card orother wireless device(s) associate with that player) at one or morecasino gaming tables. In at least one embodiment, at least a portion ofsuch player tracking information may be provided to a player ratingsystem to be used in performing automated player rating activitiesassociated with the player.

For example, according to different embodiments, an automated playerrating system may be operable to use at least a portion of the playertracking information (and/or other desired information, events and/orcriteria as described herein) to automatically start, stop, pause and/orresume player rating session(s) associated with a given player.

In at least one embodiment, various distinctions may be made betweenplayer tracking session information and player rating sessioninformation. For example, in one embodiment, player tracking sessioninformation may include a variety of different information generallyrelating to locations and/or activities of players in different regionsof a casino. Such activities may include gaming and/or non-gamingrelated player activities. In one embodiment, for example, a singleplayer rating session may include generating, monitoring, trackingand/or recording information relating to a variety of different playergaming (and/or non-gaming) activities which may occur (e.g., for a givenplayer) at different gaming stations, gaming tables and/or gamingmachines at the casino. Thus, for example, in one embodiment, a singleplayer tracking session for a given player may include informationrelating to the player's gaming activities at multiple different gamingtables. In at least one embodiment, such player tracking sessioninformation may include player rating information relating to theplayer's gaming activities at the different gaming tables.

In at least one embodiment, player tracking information may becharacterized as a subset of player tracking information. For example,in at least one embodiment, player rating information may be used totrack and/or evaluate a player's skill level, ranking, and/or comp valueto the casino. In at least one embodiment, player tracking informationmay include at least a portion of such player rating information, butmay also include other information which may be used to characterize aplayer's preferences, habits, non-gaming activities, interests, etc.

In one embodiment, player rating information may include a variety ofdifferent information generally relating to a player gaming activitiesat a given gaming table, gaming station and/or gaming machine. Moreover,in at least one embodiment, a separate player rating session for a givenplayer may be initiated and used to track player rating informationrelating to the player's gaming activities at each different gamingtable visited by the player. Thus, for example, in one embodiment wherea player may engage in gaming activities at three different casinogaming tables, three different player rating session may be initiatedfor that player, wherein each player rating session may be used to trackthe player's gaming activities at respective gaming table visited by theplayer.

FIG. 5B shows a flow diagram of a Gaming Table Player Rating SessionManagement Procedure in accordance with a specific embodiment. It willbe appreciated that different embodiments of Gaming table Player RatingSession Management Procedures may be implemented at different types oftable games, and may include at least some features other than ordifferent from those described with respect to the specific embodimentof FIG. 5B.

According to specific embodiments, multiple threads of the Gaming TablePlayer Rating Session Management Procedure may be simultaneously runningat a given gaming table. For example, in one embodiment, a separateinstance or thread of the Gaming table Player Rating Session ManagementProcedure may be implemented for each player (or selected players) of agiven gaming table.

For purposes of illustration, and example of the Gaming Table PlayerRating Session Management Procedure 550 will now be explained withreference to gaming table system 200. According to specific embodiments,one or more gaming tables may include functionality for detecting thepresence of a player at one of the gaming table's player stations. Suchfunctionality may be implemented using a variety of different types oftechnologies such as, for example: cameras, pressure sensors (e.g.,embedded in a seat, bumper, table top, etc.), motion detectors, imagesensors, signal detectors (e.g., RFID signal detectors), dealer and/orplayer input devices, etc.

For example, in a specific embodiment, Player A may be carrying his/herRFID-enabled player tracking card in his/her pocket, and chose to occupya seat at player station position 25 of gaming table system 200. Gamingtable system 200 may be operable to automatically and passively detectthe presence of Player A, for example, by detecting an RFID signaltransmitted from Player A's player tracking card. Thus, in at least oneimplementation, such player detection may be performed without requiringaction on the part of a player or dealer.

In at least one embodiment, the gaming table may be operable todetermine a position of Player A at the gaming table. Thus, for example,in the present example, gaming table system 200 may be operable todetermine that Player A is occupying player station 25. Such informationmay be subsequently used, for example, when performing player ratingoperations associated with Player A.

According to different embodiments, the gaming table system may beoperable to automatically initiate or start a new player rating sessionfor a given player (e.g., Player A) based on the detection (562) of oneor more in events. For example, in one embodiment, a player ratingsession for Player A may be automatically started in response todetecting the presence of the player at a given player station at thegaming table. In an alternate embodiment, a player rating session forPlayer A may be automatically started upon detecting that Player A hasplaced his/her first wager (e.g., placed at least one gaming chip)within the player's assigned wager placement area (e.g., within thegaming chip placement circle 221 c of FIG. 2).

According to specific embodiments, a variety of different conditions,events and/or some combination thereof may be used to trigger the startor opening of a player rating session for a given player. Such eventsmay include, for example, but are not limited to, one or more of thefollowing:

-   -   physical proximity of player and/or player tracking device        detected as satisfying predetermined criteria;    -   player tracking device detected within specified zone of player        station area;    -   player tracking device shown or handed to dealer and/or other        casino employee;    -   appropriate player input detected (e.g., player pushes button);    -   appropriate dealer input detected;    -   specified time constraints detected as being satisfied (e.g.,        begin player rating session at next round of play);    -   gaming chip(s) placed detected within player's assigned wagering        region;    -   presence of player detected at player station;    -   detection of player's first wager being placed;    -   player location or position detected as satisfying predefined        criteria;    -   appropriate floor supervisor input detected;    -   player identity determined (e.g., through the use of directional        RFID; through placement of player tracking media on a designated        spot at a table game; etc.);    -   detection of continuous presence of player tracking media for a        predetermined amount of time;    -   etc.

For example, in one embodiment wherein player tracking may beimplemented using an RFID-enabled player tracking card (or RFID-enableddevice), the player rating system may automatically start a playerrating for the player using the time, position and/or card identifierinformation associated with the RFID-enabled player tracking. In oneembodiment, the player rating system may determine the player's identityusing the card identifier information. In another embodiment, the playerrating system may determine the player's identity by requesting desiredinformation from a player management system. In one embodiment, once therating has been started, any (or selected) wager activities performed bythe player may be automatically tracked and associated with thatplayer's rating.

Assuming that the appropriate event or events have been detected (562)for starting a player rating session for a given player (e.g., PlayerA), a player rating session for Player A may then be started orinitiated (564). During the active player rating session, player ratinginformation relating to Player A may be automatically tracked and/orgenerated by one or more components of the gaming table system.According to a specific embodiment, once the player tracking session hasbeen started, all or selected wager and/or game play activities detectedas being associated with Player A may be associated with the currentplayer rating session for Player A. According to specific embodiments,such player rating information may include, but is not limited to, oneor more of the following types of information (and/or some combinationthereof):

-   -   wager data;    -   timestamp information;    -   player station position;    -   player buy-in data;    -   side wager data;    -   session start time;    -   session end time;    -   information relating to gaming chips (e.g., types, amount,        value, etc.) detected as being within the player's personal        player space (e.g., within personal player space region 250,        FIG. 2);    -   player movement information (e.g., a player moving from player        station at a gaming table to another player station at the        gaming table);    -   rating information (e.g., one or more types of ratings) for a        player;    -   player skill information;    -   game speed information;    -   various types of player-tracking related information;    -   amounts wagered;    -   time played;    -   game speed (e.g., wagers/hour);    -   house advantage;    -   walk amount;    -   actual wins/losses;    -   theoretical wins/losses;    -   net session win/loss;    -   winnings;    -   buy-in activity (e.g., using chips, cash, marker, vouchers,        credits, etc.);    -   marker in activity;    -   time spent at gaming table;    -   active gaming time spent at gaming table;    -   chips out activity;    -   redemption activity (e.g., pay offs using credits and/or        markers, buying back of credits/markers);    -   comp. value information (e.g., a value or rating for a player        which may be used by the casino for awarding various        complimentary products, services, etc. for a given player and/or        for given time period);    -   player ranking information (e.g., bronze, silver, gold);    -   etc.

According to specific embodiments, the gaming table system may beoperable to detect (568) one or more events relating to the suspensionand/or ending of an active player rating session. For example, in oneembodiment, the gaming table system may periodically check for eventsrelating to the suspension and/or ending of an active player ratingsession. Alternatively, a separate or asynchronous process (e.g., anevent detection manager/component) may be utilized for detecting variousevents such as, for example, those relating to the starting, suspending,resuming, and/or ending of one or more player rating sessions at thegaming table.

In at least one embodiment, if an event is detected for suspendingPlayer A's active player rating session, the current or active playerrating session for Player A may be suspended (570) (e.g., temporarilysuspended). In one embodiment, during a suspended player rating session,no additional player rating information is logged or tracked for thatplayer.

According to specific embodiments, a variety of different events may beused to trigger the suspension of a player rating session for a givenplayer. Such events may include, for example, but are not limited to,one or more of the following (and/or some combination thereof):

-   -   no detection of player at assigned player station;    -   no detection of player's player tracking device within        predetermined range;    -   player input;    -   dealer input;    -   other casino employee input (e.g., pit boss, etc.)    -   time based events;    -   player detected as not being within predetermined range;    -   no player activity with specified time period;    -   player determined to be out of gaming chips;    -   etc.

For example, if a player inadvertently removes his/her player trackingdevice from a designated location of the gaming table for a brief periodof time, and/or for a predetermined number of rounds, and the playertracking device is subsequently returned to its former location, thegaming table system may be operable to merge consecutive periods ofactivity into the same player rating session, including any roundstracked while the player's player tracking device was detected as beingabsent. In one embodiment, if a player moves to a different playerstation at the gaming table, the gaming table system may respond byswitching or modifying the player station identity associated with thatplayer's player rating session in order to begin tracking informationassociated with the player's player rating session at the new playerstation.

In at least one embodiment, a suspended player rating session may beresumed or ended, depending upon the detection of one or moreappropriate events. For example if an event is detected (572) forresuming the suspended Player A player rating session, the player ratingsession for Player A may be resumed (576) and/or re-activated, whereuponplayer tracking information relating to Player A may be automaticallytracked and/or generated by one or more components of the gaming tablesystem.

According to specific embodiments, a variety of different events may beused to trigger the resuming of a player rating session for a givenplayer. Such events may include, for example, but are not limited to,one or more of the following (and/or some combination thereof):

-   -   re-detection of player at assigned player station;    -   re-detection of player's player tracking device within        predetermined range;    -   player input;    -   dealer input;    -   other casino employee input (e.g., pit boss, etc.)    -   time based events;    -   player detected as being within predetermined range;    -   player game play activity detected;    -   player wager activity detected;    -   etc.

Alternatively, if an event is detected for ending (580) the suspendedPlayer A player rating session, the player rating session for Player Amay be ended (582) and/or automatically closed (584). At that point theplayer tracking manager (e.g., 834) may have (and/or may be able toautomatically calculate) all desired player wager information such as,for example, turnover, average wager, theoretical value, comp value,etc.

According to specific embodiments, a variety of different events may beused to trigger the closing of a player rating session for a givenplayer. Such events may include, for example, but are not limited to,one or more of the following (and/or some combination thereof):

-   -   no detection of player at assigned player station;    -   no detection of player's player tracking device within        predetermined range;    -   player input;    -   dealer input;    -   other casino employee input (e.g., pit boss, etc.)    -   time based events;    -   player detected as not being within predetermined range;    -   no player activity with specified time period;    -   player determined to be out of gaming chips;    -   timeout exceeded;    -   player detected at another location in the casino;    -   player tracking device detected at another location in the        casino;    -   etc.

According to a specific embodiment, the closing of the Player A playerrating session may include determining a current walk amount for PlayerA. For example, in one embodiment, the gaming table system may includeone or more components for detecting gaming chips (e.g., belonging to aparticular player) within a predetermined region or zone at the gamingtable which, for example, may be defined as that player's personalspace. For example, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, playerstation 25 has associated therewith a personal space region 250. In atleast one embodiment, each player station at the gaming table may haveassociated therewith its own unique personal player space region. In oneembodiment, a wager/gaming chip tracking system (e.g., 836, FIG. 8) maybe operable to automatically identify and track the number and values ofgaming chips which are located within a player's personal space at thegaming table.

According to various embodiments, different mechanisms may be used toidentify and track the number and values of gaming chips which arelocated within a player's personal space at the gaming table. Forexample, in at least one embodiment, one or more video cameras andintelligent image analysis software may be used to identify and/or trackat least a portion gaming chips which are located within a player'spersonal space at the gaming table. In some embodiments where at least aportion of the player's gaming chips are RFID-enabled gaming chips,tracking of the movements and/or locations of the gaming chips may beaccomplished, for example, using various types of RFID device trackingmechanisms such as, for example, RFID device tracking mechanisms wellknown in the art, and/or other types of RFID device tracking mechanismssuch as those disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/726,633 (ATTY DKT: IGT1P061×4), entitled Radio Direction Finderfor Gaming Chip and/or Player Tracking, by Mattice et al., filed Mar.21, 2007, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference forall purposes.

In at least one embodiment, such gaming chip tracking functionalityallows the tracking of player gaming chips on the table at all ordesired times, and not just when a wager is made. For example, it may beused to automatically determine the amount and/or value of gaming chipswhich a player walked with, for example, based on the removal of chipsfrom the player's personal space. It may also be used to automaticallytrack player buy-in information, for example, based on the adding of newchips to the player's personal space and/or other criteria (e.g., chipsawarded to the player due to a win at the gaming table are not countedor included). Accordingly, it will be appreciated that suchfunctionality may help eliminate delays in closing a player ratingsession which traditionally have been associated with manual processes.

Other Intelligent Gaming Table System Embodiments

FIG. 3 shows an alternate example of a specific embodiment of anintelligent gaming table system 300. As illustrated in the example ofFIG. 3, a casino gaming table environment 300 is displayed whichincludes intelligent gaming table 301, dealer 303, and players (e.g.,305, 307). In this particular embodiment, the intelligent gaming table301 includes a plurality of electronic displays (e.g., 312A-G, 310). Inone embodiment, the plurality of electronic displays may be implementedas separate physical displays which have been mounted into (or onto) thebody of a conventional-type casino gaming table. In an alternateembodiment, the entire top surface (or selected portions thereof) of theintelligent gaming table may be implemented as a continuous display, andthe electronic displays (e.g., 312A-G, 310) implemented as specificdisplay regions within the continuous display. Other embodiments of theintelligent gaming table of the present invention may resembleconventional-type casino gaming tables which do not include anyelectronic displays.

According to specific embodiments, the intelligent gaming table 301 canbe of a variety of common constructions. For example, table 301 mayinclude a table support trestle having legs which contact an underlyingfloor to support the intelligent gaming table thereon. The intelligentgaming table may have a table top and perimeter pad which extends fullyabout a semicircular portion of the table periphery. The straight, backportion of the periphery is used by the dealer 303 and can be partly orwholly padded as may vary with the particular table chosen.

A playing surface is provided upon the upwardly facing surface of tabletop upon which participants of the card game play. A plurality ofplayers (e.g., 305) sit or stand along the semicircular portion and playa desired card game, such as the popular casino card game of blackjack.Other card games are alternatively possible, although the systemdescribed herein is specifically adapted for playing casino blackjack.

Although not shown in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent gamingtable 301 may also include a gaming chip rack which allows the dealer toconveniently store gaming chips used by the dealer in playing the game.A money drop slot may be further included to allow the dealer to easilydeposit paper money bills thereinto when players purchase gaming chips.

Table 301 can support a system, or form a part of a system for playingcard games which is constructed according to specific embodiments of thepresent invention.

As illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent gaming tablemay include a table control console 320 for use by the dealer and/orother casino employees. In one implementation, the table control consolemay be used to facilitate and execute game play operations, tableconfiguration operations, player tracking operations, maintenance andinspection operations, etc.

Further, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent gamingtable may include a which is adapted to display images that depict thecards and card hands being played along with additional information usedin the play of the card game. For example, as shown in the example ofFIG. 3, the intelligent gaming table 301 includes a plurality ofelectronic displays (e.g., 312A-G, 310). In one embodiment, theplurality of electronic displays may be implemented as separate physicaldisplays which have been mounted into (or onto) the body of aconventional-type casino gaming table. In an alternate embodiment, theentire top surface (or selected portions thereof) of the intelligentgaming table may be implemented as a continuous display, and theelectronic displays (e.g., 312A-G, 310) implemented as specific displayregions within the continuous display. Other embodiments of theintelligent gaming table of the present invention may resembleconventional-type casino gaming tables which do not include anyelectronic displays.

According to a specific embodiment, the presentation system or displayunits may be supported upon the upper or playing surface 55 of theintelligent gaming table. This allows the system to be easily installedupon a variety of differing intelligent gaming tables without extensivemodifications being performed. Alternatively, the presentation systemcan otherwise be mounted upon the intelligent gaming table in a mannerwhich allows participants to view one or more of the displays which forma part of the presentation system.

According to a specific embodiment, the presentation system may beadapted for use by a dealer 303 and multiple players (e.g. 305) who arein attendance and positioned about the intelligent gaming table.

As illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent gaming tablemay optionally include one or more speakers 321 which, for example, maybe used to provide various types of audio information such as, forexample: game related information (e.g., instructions to players and/ordealer, sound effects, etc.), casino related announcements, gaming tablestatus information, music, attracts, promotions, bonus information,communication information (e.g., for speakerphone or two-way radiocommunications), etc.

According to specific embodiments, the intelligent gaming table mayinclude a plurality of electronic displays (e.g., 312A-G), herein termedplayer displays, which are capable of displaying changeable displayimages. The player display images are intended to display graphicalrepresentations of playing cards (e.g., virtual playing cards) and/orother information used in the play of the card game.

Additionally, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3, the intelligent gamingtable may include one or more common displays (e.g., Common Display 310)which may present information for the exclusive use of the dealer and/orother information to be viewed by the dealer, players, spectators,and/or other persons. Various types of information which may bedisplayed at the common display 310 include, for example: dealer cards,ante information, common or shared player cards, individual playercards, wager information, etc. In one embodiment, the common display 310may be used to:

-   -   reveal cards of selected players (when appropriate);    -   verify cards dealt to selected players;    -   display the dealer's cards;    -   display game play instructions;    -   display table configuration information;    -   display player tracking related information;    -   display player tracking session status information;    -   display error messages;    -   display wagering information;    -   indicate which of the players is currently playing (e.g., show        active player);    -   display active players' actions (e.g., Hit, Hold, Double Down);    -   display promotional information;    -   identify players waiting for an opening at the table (e.g., next        up);    -   display community cards;    -   display bonus game;    -   display progressive jackpots;    -   display multimedia information from external sources;    -   etc.

Player displays 312 may be arranged adjacent to each player seatingposition. For example, player display 312D may be adapted for use byplayer 305, and player display 312E may be adapted for use by player307.

In at least one embodiment, the intelligent gaming table displays mayinclude touchscreen functionality for facilitating user interaction. Forexample, the player displays 312 may include a touchscreen and/or otherinput mechanisms for allowing the player to provide input relating togame play, preferences, wagering, player tracking activity, etc.

In at least one implementation, the intelligent gaming table may includeone or more sensors (e.g., 311A-G) or other security mechanisms which,for example, may be used for a variety of purposes such as, for example,controlling the display of a player's cards; preventing accidentalexposure of player cards; providing additional security features withrespect to information displayed on the player's display; etc.

For example, in one embodiment, a pressure sensor may be provided to thecontrol the display of a player's cards. In this particular embodiment,a player may be required to apply pressure on the pressure sensor inorder to cause the player's cards to be display. In one of limitation, avelocity pressure sensor may be utilized to allow for more of theplayer's display information to be displayed in response to an increasein pressure on the pressure sensor, and to allow for less of theplayer's display information to be displayed in response to a decreasein the pressure on the pressure sensor.

In a different embodiment, a light sensor may be provided to the controlthe display of a player's cards. For example, in one implementation, theplayer's cards may be displayed in response to the light sensordetecting a predefined decrease in the amount of ambient light detectednear the display such as, for example, in the situation where the playercups his or her hands over their player display.

In another embodiment, a heat sensor may be provided to the control thedisplay of a player's cards. For example, in one implementation, theplayer's cards may be displayed in response to the heat sensor detectinga predefined increase in the amount of thermal heat detected near thedisplay such as, for example, in the situation where the player cups hisor her hands over their player display.

In another embodiment, a scrolling wheel or other mechanism may beprovided to the control the display of a player's cards. For example, inone implementation, the player's cards may be gradually displayed inresponse to the player rotating the scrolling wheel in a firstdirection, and may be gradually hidden in response to the playerrotating the scrolling wheel in a second (e.g., opposite) direction.

Other security mechanisms for controlling the display of information ona player's display may include, for example:

-   -   biometric identification devices (e.g., fingerprint reader);    -   use of player tracking cards and/or player tracking profile        information;    -   a “display cards” button;    -   implementing a time delay before showing cards after receiving        input to display cards;    -   limiting viewing angle of player display so that only the player        in front of the display can view the display;    -   etc.

As illustrated in the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent gaming table301 may include player wagering zones or gaming chip placement zones(e.g., 302). In one embodiment, each player wagering zone may include agaming chip detection component which may be adapted to automaticallydetect the presence and/or monetary amount of gaming chips which havebeen placed within a player's wagering zone. In at least oneimplementation, a player must position a gaming chip within theirrespective wagering zone to be considered a participant in the gamebeing played.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a method and apparatusfor graphically representing and displaying casino game play data (e.g.,player cards, dealer cards, etc.), player tracking related information,and/or other desired data on a mobile or handheld display device.

In at least one implementation, a respective personal player device(herein referred to as a PPD, e.g., 450 of FIG. 4) may be provided toeach player at the intelligent gaming table for facilitating variousactivities such as, for example: game play activities, player trackingactivities and/or other activities conducted at the intelligent gamingtable or elsewhere. Associations may be made between PPDs and players(and/or player positions at the intelligent gaming table) such that eachPPD is uniquely associated with a respective player (and/or playerposition) at the intelligent gaming table.

In one embodiment, the PPD may be implemented as a simple playertracking card such as, for example, an RFID-enabled player tracking cardsuch as that illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of the components of a smart card 650that may be used in the present invention. The RF enabled smart card maybe designed for wired or wireless use with a gaming machine, gamingperipheral, gaming terminal, gaming table, and/or use with trackingunits situated in non-gaming sections of the casino. In one embodiment,the smart card 650 may have the same footprint as a magnetic stripedcard and may include a wired input/output interface 651, a wirelessinput/output interface 652, a processor 653, memory 655 and a battery656 incorporated in some manner on a card substrate 657. The battery 656is used to supply power to operate the devices on the smart card 650. Insome embodiments, when it is inserted into a smart card reader of sometype, power may also be supplied to the card by the smart card reader.

The smart card 650 may include an operating system of some type that isused to run applications on the smart card. In some embodiments, theoperating system for the smart card 650 may be provided by Microsoft(Redmond, Wash.) or Sun Microsystems of Palo Alto, Calif. The operatingsystem may be used to manage the execution of gaming applications on thesmart card. The operating system and gaming applications mayincorporated into the processor 653 as firmware, stored in the memory655 on the smart card or may be implemented as a combination of firmwarein the processor 653 and stored in the memory 655. The processor 653 maybe a general purpose microprocessor or a custom microcontrollerincorporating gaming specific firmware. The memory 655 may be flashmemory.

The wired Input/output interface 651 may be an I/O EEPROM or the likethat allows the smart card 650 to communicate with a smart card readerand/or other types of media readers. Further, the I/O interface 651 mayinclude one or more communication protocols that allow the smart card650 to communicate directly with gaming machines, gaming peripherals,gaming terminal, gaming tables and/or other gaming devices designed tocommunicate with the smart card. Some communication protocols may bestored in the memory 655 of the smart card 650. The communicationprotocols stored in the memory 655 may be added or deleted from thesmart card 650 as needed.

According to a specific embodiment, the wireless Input/output or Inputinterfaces may be provided by a wireless smart card reader which permitsthe smart card 650 to communicate with non-gaming activity playertracking units and/or the gaming activity player tracking units such asthose on a gaming machine, gaming peripheral, gaming terminal, gamingtable, etc. This wireless I/O interface may include one or more wirelesscommunication protocols, such as the wireless communication standardBluetooth™ described above, that allow the smart card 650 to communicatewith the corresponding wireless smart card reader. Some communicationprotocols may be stored in the memory 655 of the smart card 650, and maybe added or deleted from the smart card 50 as needed.

In alternate embodiments, the PPD may correspond to a player's PDA, cellphone, and/or other handheld computing device. As explained in greaterdetail below, a PPD may be adapted to perform a variety of functionssuch as, for example, one or more of the following:

-   -   allowing a player to select cards for discard/holding;    -   allowing a player to perform wagering activities (e.g.,        increasing bets, checking bets, performing side        wagering/backbetting activities, etc.);    -   initiating or starting a player tracking session;    -   suspending a player tracking session;    -   resuming a player tracking session;    -   merging data from one or more player tracking sessions;    -   ending a player tracking session;    -   initiating, suspending or ending a flat rate play session;    -   retrieving and/or displaying player tracking data;    -   retrieving and/or displaying player account data;    -   displaying game play assistance information;    -   displaying casino layout information;    -   displaying promotional information;    -   displaying multimedia information from external sources such as        TV signals;    -   notify a player of messages;    -   displaying player's current location;    -   etc.

FIG. 7 shows a simplified block diagram of various components which maybe used for implementing a PPD device in accordance with the specificembodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in the example of FIG. 7, PPD 700 may include a varietyof components, modules and/or systems for providing functionalityrelating to one or more aspects of the present invention. Other PPDembodiments of the present invention (not shown) may include differentor other components than those illustrated in FIG. 7. For example, PPD700 may include one or more of the following:

-   -   At least one processor or CPU (706). In at least one        implementation, the processor(s) 706 may include at least some        functionality similar to processor(s) 410 of FIG. 4.    -   Memory 716, which, for example, may include volatile memory        (e.g., RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., disk memory, FLASH        memory, EPROMs, etc.), unalterable memory, and/or other types of        memory. In at least one implementation, the memory 716 may        include at least some functionality similar to memory 416 of        FIG. 4.    -   Interface(s) 718 which, for example, may include wired        interfaces and/or wireless interfaces. In at least one        implementation, the interface(s) 718 may include functionality        similar to interface(s) 406 of FIG. 4. For example, in at least        one implementation, the wireless communication interface(s) may        be configured or designed to communicate with components of the        intelligent gaming table (such as, for example, PPD docking        regions), remote servers, electronic gaming machines, other        wireless devices (e.g., PDAs, other PPDs, cell phones, player        tracking transponders, etc.). Such wireless communication may be        implemented using one or more wireless interfaces/protocols such        as, for example, 802.11 (WiFi), 802.15 (including Bluetooth™),        802.16 (WiMax), 802.22, Cellular standards such as CDMA,        CDMA2000, WCDMA, Radio Frequency (e.g., RFID), Infrared, Near        Field Magnetics, etc.    -   At least one power source 704. In at least one implementation,        the power source may include at least one mobile power source        for allowing the PPD to operate in a mobile environment. For        example, in one implementation, the battery 704 may be        implemented using a rechargeable, thin-film type battery.        Further, in embodiments where it is desirable for the PPD to be        flexible, the battery 704 may be designed to be flexible.    -   One or more display(s) 708. According to various embodiments,        such display(s) may be implemented using, for example, LCD        display technology, OLED display technology, and/or other types        of conventional display technology. In at least one        implementation, display(s) 708 may be adapted to be flexible or        bendable. Additionally, in at least one embodiment the        information displayed on display(s) 708 may utilize e-ink        technology (such as that available from E Ink Corporation,        Cambridge, Mass., www.eink.com), or other suitable technology        for reducing the power consumption of information displayed on        the display(s) 708.    -   One or more user I/O Device(s) such as, for example, touch        keys/buttons 712, scroll wheels, cursors, touchscreen sensors        710, etc.    -   One or more status indicators 702. For example, in one        implementation, one or more colored status indicators (such as,        for example, LEDs) may be included on the back portion of a PPD        (e.g., the side opposite the display 708), and adapted to        provide various information such as, for example: communication        status; game play status; player tracking session status; flat        rate play session status; bonus status; PPD health status; PPD        operating mode; battery power status; battery charging status;        status of cards being dealt; “ok to pickup PPD” status; error        detection status; team status; out of range status; etc.    -   At least one motion detection component 714 for detecting motion        or movement of the PPD and/or for detecting motion, movement,        gestures and/or other input data from user.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 7, other PPD embodiments of the presentinvention may include fewer or additional components, modules and/orsystems such as, for example:

-   -   Device driver(s) which, for example, may include at least some        functionality similar to device driver(s) 242 of FIG. 2.    -   Authentication/validation components which, for example, may be        used for authenticating and/or validating local hardware and/or        software components and/or hardware/software components residing        at a remote device. In at least one implementation, the        authentication/validation component(s) may include functionality        similar to authentication/validation component(s) 244 of FIG. 2.    -   Geolocation module which, for example, may be configured or        designed to acquire geolocation information from remote sources        and use the acquired geolocation information to determine        information relating to a relative and/or absolute position of        the PPD. For example, in one implementation, the geolocation        module may be adapted to receive GPS signal information for use        in determining the position or location of the PPD. In another        implementation, the geolocation module may be adapted to receive        multiple wireless signals from multiple remote devices (e.g.,        gaming machines, servers, wireless access points, etc.) and use        the signal information to compute position/location information        relating to the position or location of the PPD.    -   User Identification module. In one implementation, the User        Identification module may be adapted to determine the identity        of the current user or owner of the PPD. For example, in one        embodiment, the current user may be required to perform a log in        process at the PPD in order to access one or more features.        Alternatively, the PPD may be adapted to automatically determine        the identity of the current user based upon one or more external        signals such as, for example, an RFID tag or badge worn by the        current user which provides a wireless signal to the PPD for        determining the identity of the current user. In at least one        implementation, various security features may be incorporated        into the PPD to prevent unauthorized users from accessing        confidential or sensitive information.    -   Information filtering module(s) which, for example, may be        adapted to automatically and dynamically generate, using one or        more filter parameters, filtered information to be displayed on        the PPD display(s). In one implementation, such filter        parameters may be customizable by the player or PPD user.    -   Speakers or other audio output components.    -   Media presentation modules such as, for example, components for        displaying audio/visual media.    -   Etc.

For example, in one implementation, a PPD may be adapted to communicatewith a remote server to access player account data, for example, to knowhow much funds are available to the player for wagering.

In at least one implementation, the PPD may also include otherfunctionality such as that provided by PDAs, cell phones, or othermobile computing devices. Further, in at least one implementation, thePPD may be adapted to automatically and/or dynamically change itsfunctionality depending on various conditions such as, for example: typeof game being played; user input; current location or position;detection of local electronic gaming tables/devices; etc.

In at least one embodiment, a PPD may be implemented using conventionalmobile electronic devices (e.g., PDAs, cell phones, etc.) which havebeen specifically adapted to implement at least a portion of the PPDfunctionalities described herein.

In one embodiment, the intelligent gaming table may adapted toelectronically “deal” cards to each of the players at the intelligentgaming table, and to store information relating to each player's hand oneach player's corresponding PPD. In at least one implementation, aplayer is able to view the cards of his or her hand on a display of thatplayer's PPD.

According to a specific embodiment, the PPD may also be adapted toimplement at least a portion of the features associated with othermobile devices such as those described, for example, in one or more ofthe following references, each of which being incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes: U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/472,585 (Attorney Docket No. IGT1P231) entitled “MOBILE DEVICEFOR PROVIDING FILTERED CASINO INFORMATION BASED ON REAL TIME DATA”; U.S.patent application Serial No. 30/062,002 (Attorney Docket No.IGT1P341/P-481) for “GAMING SYSTEM AND GAMING METHOD.”

Returning to the example of FIG. 3, the intelligent gaming table 301 mayinclude a plurality of PPD docking regions (e.g., 304). In oneimplementation, a separate PPD docking region is provided at each playerstation at the intelligent gaming table. According to variousembodiments, a PPD docking region may include appropriate hardwareand/or software for implementing a variety of functions or features suchas, for example:

-   -   performing PPD detection, authentication, and/or identification;    -   providing wired or wireless communication with selected PPDs;    -   providing uni-directional or bi-directional communication with        selected PPDs;    -   providing power and/or battery charging capabilities to selected        PPDs;    -   reconfiguring PPDs;    -   updating PPD software;    -   downloading new games;    -   reading player selections;    -   generating player tracking related information;    -   etc.

In at least one embodiment, the PPD docking regions may be part of acasino gaming network which, for example, may include one or more of:intelligent gaming table systems, electronic gaming machines, gameservers, player tracking servers, casino accounting servers, and/orother component(s) with which communication may be desired. The PPDdocking regions may also be adapted to provide at least onecommunication interface for allowing selected PPDs to communicate withdesired components/systems of the casino gaming network.

In at least one embodiment, the PPDs and/or PPD docking regions mayinclude one or more communication interfaces for facilitatingcommunication with each other. Such communication interfaces may have avariety of architectures and utilize a variety of protocols such as, forexample, USB, IEEE-1394 (FireWire™), Ethernet, etc. (e.g., in caseswhere the communication link is a wired link), or one or more wirelesslinks utilizing one or more wireless protocols such as, for example:802.11 (WiFi), 802.15 (including Bluetooth™), 802.16 (WiMax), 802.22,Cellular standards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, Radio Frequency (e.g.,RFID), Infrared, Near Field Magnetic communication protocols, etc. Thecommunication links may transmit electrical, electromagnetic or opticalsignals which carry digital data streams or analog signals representingvarious types of information.

It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, various combinationsof PPDs and player displays may be used. For example, in someembodiments of the intelligent gaming tables of the present invention,all playing card related activity may be implemented using PPDs. In atleast some of these embodiments, the player displays (e.g., 312A-G) maybe used to display desired information to the player (e.g., other thanthe player's cards) such as, player tracking information, playertracking session status information; wagering information, game rules,side wagering activities/information, other game playactivities/information (e.g., keno, sports book wagering, etc.), etc. Inother embodiments of the intelligent gaming table, the player displays(e.g., 312A-G) may be omitted.

In at least one implementation, a dealer at a intelligent gaming tablemay have access to multiple PPDs which have not been yet been activatedor registered to a particular player. When a new player desires toparticipate in the game being played at the intelligent gaming table,the dealer may select a PPD for activation, activate the PPD for gameplay and/or player tracking functionality, and hand the activated PPDover to the new player.

A variety of different security-related features may be implemented atthe intelligent gaming table in order, for example, to address variousissues such as player cheating, PPD tampering, unwanted or accidentalviewing of player's cards, unauthorized use of player tracking oraccount data, etc.

For example, in at least one implementation, a PPD must first beactivated and/or undergo a registration process before being allowed tobe used for game play at the intelligent gaming table.

In one embodiment, a player may possess his or her own PPD which hasbeen registered for that player's exclusive use. For example, the PPDmay be registered and linked to the player's player tracking account. Inat least one implementation, the player may carry his PPD with him anduse his PPD for game play at any authorized intelligent gaming table. Inone implementation, before a player-owned PPD is enabled for use at theintelligent gaming table, a security check may be performed toauthenticate and/or validate the PPD before authorizing it for use atthe intelligent gaming table, in order to help ensure that the PPD hasnot been modified or tampered.

According to different embodiments, a PPD may also be linked to aspecific PPD docking region (e.g., 304) which is associated with aspecific player station (e.g., 350) at the intelligent gaming table. Forexample, in one implementation, before game play begins, a player atplayer station 350 may be required to place his or her PPD within thatstation's PPD docking region 304. In an alternate embodiment, one ormore sensors or components at the player station may automaticallydetect the presence of a PPD within a predetermined range or distance(e.g., within region 350). For example, if a player with a PPD in herpocket sits down at seat 305 of player station 350, the intelligentgaming table may automatically detect the presence of the PPD andassociate it's location with player station 350.

According to a specific embodiment, once the game play begins, a pairingmechanism may be established between the player's PPD and PPD dockingregion 304. In one implementation, such pairing mechanism may result inthe PPD being unable to communicate with any other PPD docking region atthe intelligent gaming table during the game play (e.g., until thecurrent round of game play has ended), and may also result in the PPDdocking region 304 being unable to communicate with any other PPD duringthe game play. Such pairing mechanisms may help prevent other players(and/or persons near the intelligent gaming table) from being able togain access to unauthorized game play data (such as, for example, cardsdealt to other players at the intelligent gaming table).

Another security measure which may be implemented relates to a PPDfunction control mechanism which may be adapted to prevent a PPD fromperforming certain functions and/or from displaying selected informationbased on the occurrence of various conditions.

For example, in one implementation, the PPD may be adapted to allow forthe display of the player's cards only when the PPD is within anallowable “PPD display zone” such as, for example, a predetermineddistance (e.g., within 5 feet) from the intelligent gaming table and/orassociated PPD docking region. If the PPD is moved to a location outsideof the allowable display zone, the PPD display may be cleared and/ordisabled. In another embodiment, an active player tracking session for aplayer at the gaming table may be suspended in response to detectingthat the player's PPD is not within a predetermined range from thegaming table and/or associated PPD docking region.

According to a specific embodiment, one mechanism for implementing suchsecurity features is via the use of near-field magnetic communicationtechnology. For example, in one implementation, at least onecommunication channel between a PPD and its associated PPD dockingstation may be implemented using a near-field communication protocolwhich has been adapted to allow a bi-directional communication betweenthe PPD and the PPD docking station within a range of up to 5 feet. ThePPD may be adapted to require that this communication channel remainactive in order to continue the active player tracking session for thatplayer (and/or to perform other specified functions). When the PPD ismoved to a location more than 5 feet from the PPD docking station, thenear-field communication channel will go down, and in response, the PPDmay be adapted implement one or more appropriate responses such as, forexample, suspending or ending the active player tracking session. Whenthe PPD is moved to a location within 5 feet from the PPD dockingstation, the near-field communication channel may be re-established, andin response, the PPD may be adapted to implement one or more otherappropriate responses such as, for example, resuming a suspended playertracking session, merging data from one or more player trackingsessions, initiating a new player tracking session, etc.

An example of a near-field communication protocol is the ECMA-340 “NearField Communication—Interface and Protocol (NFCIP-1)”, published by ECMAInternational (www.ecma-international.org), herein incorporated byreference in its entirety for all purposes. It will be appreciated thatother types of Near Field Communication protocols may be used including,for example, near field magnetic communication protocols, near field RFcommunication protocols, and/or other wireless protocols which providethe ability to control with relative precision (e.g., on the order ofcentimeters, inches, feet, meters, etc.) the allowable radius ofcommunication between at least 4 devices using such wirelesscommunication protocols.

It will be appreciated that intelligent gaming table 301 is but oneexample from a wide range of intelligent gaming table designs on whichthe present invention may be implemented. For example, not all suitableintelligent gaming tables have electronic displays or player trackingfeatures. Further, some intelligent gaming tables may include a singledisplay, while others may include multiple displays. Other intelligentgaming tables may not include any displays. As another example, a gamemay be generated on a host computer and may be displayed on a remoteterminal or a remote gaming device. The remote gaming device may beconnected to the host computer via a network of some type such as alocal area network, a wide area network, an intranet or the Internet.The remote gaming device may be a portable gaming device such as but notlimited to a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and a wirelessgame player. Images rendered from gaming environments may be displayedon portable gaming devices that are used to facilitate game playactivities at the intelligent gaming table. Further an intelligentgaming table or server may include gaming logic for commanding a remotegaming device to render an image from a virtual camera in 2-D or 3-Dgaming environments stored on the remote gaming device and to displaythe rendered image on a display located on the remote gaming device.Thus, those of skill in the art will understand that the presentinvention, as described below, can be deployed on most any intelligentgaming table now available or hereafter developed.

Some preferred intelligent gaming tables of the present assignee areimplemented with special features and/or additional circuitry thatdifferentiates them from general-purpose computers (e.g., desktop PC'sand laptops). Intelligent gaming tables are highly regulated to ensurefairness and, in some cases, intelligent gaming tables may be operableto dispense monetary awards. Therefore, to satisfy security andregulatory requirements in a gaming environment, hardware and softwarearchitectures may be implemented in intelligent gaming tables thatdiffer significantly from those of general-purpose computers. Adescription of intelligent gaming tables relative to general-purposecomputing machines and some examples of the additional (or different)components and features found in intelligent gaming tables are describedbelow.

At first glance, one might think that adapting PC technologies to thegaming industry would be a simple proposition because both PCs andintelligent gaming tables employ microprocessors that control a varietyof devices. However, because of such reasons as 1) the regulatoryrequirements that are placed upon intelligent gaming tables, 2) theharsh environment in which intelligent gaming tables operate, 3)security requirements and 4) fault tolerance requirements, adapting PCtechnologies to an intelligent gaming table can be quite difficult.Further, techniques and methods for solving a problem in the PCindustry, such as device compatibility and connectivity issues, mightnot be adequate in the gaming environment. For instance, a fault or aweakness tolerated in a PC, such as security holes in software orfrequent crashes, may not be tolerated in an intelligent gaming tablebecause in an intelligent gaming table these faults can lead to a directloss of funds from the intelligent gaming table, such as stolen cash orloss of revenue when the intelligent gaming table is not operatingproperly.

For the purposes of illustration, a few differences between PC systemsand gaming systems will be described. A first difference betweenintelligent gaming tables and common PC based computers systems is thatsome intelligent gaming tables may be designed to be state-basedsystems. In a state-based system, the system stores and maintains itscurrent state in a non-volatile memory, such that, in the event of apower failure or other malfunction the intelligent gaming table willreturn to its current state when the power is restored. For instance, ifa player was shown an award for a table game and, before the award couldbe provided to the player the power failed, the intelligent gamingtable, upon the restoration of power, would return to the state wherethe award is indicated. As anyone who has used a PC, knows, PCs are notstate machines and a majority of data is usually lost when a malfunctionoccurs. This requirement affects the software and hardware design on anintelligent gaming table.

A second important difference between intelligent gaming tables andcommon PC based computer systems is that for regulation purposes,various software which the intelligent gaming table uses to generatetable game play activities (such as, for example, the electronicshuffling and dealing of cards) may be designed to be static andmonolithic to prevent cheating by the operator of intelligent gamingtable. For instance, one solution that has been employed in the gamingindustry to prevent cheating and satisfy regulatory requirements hasbeen to manufacture an intelligent gaming table that can use aproprietary processor running instructions to generate the game playactivities from an EPROM or other form of non-volatile memory. Thecoding instructions on the EPROM are static (non-changeable) and must beapproved by a gaming regulators in a particular jurisdiction andinstalled in the presence of a person representing the gamingjurisdiction. Any changes to any part of the software required togenerate the game play activities, such as adding a new device driverused by the master table controller to operate a device duringgeneration of the game play activities can require a new EPROM to beburnt, approved by the gaming jurisdiction and reinstalled on theintelligent gaming table in the presence of a gaming regulator.Regardless of whether the EPROM solution is used, to gain approval inmost gaming jurisdictions, an intelligent gaming table must demonstratesufficient safeguards that prevent an operator or player of anintelligent gaming table from manipulating hardware and software in amanner that gives them an unfair and some cases an illegal advantage.The intelligent gaming table should have a means to determine if thecode it will execute is valid. If the code is not valid, the intelligentgaming table must have a means to prevent the code from being executed.The code validation requirements in the gaming industry affect bothhardware and software designs on intelligent gaming tables.

A third important difference between intelligent gaming tables andcommon PC based computer systems is the number and kinds of peripheraldevices used on an intelligent gaming table are not as great as on PCbased computer systems. Traditionally, in the gaming industry,intelligent gaming tables have been relatively simple in the sense thatthe number of peripheral devices and the number of functions theintelligent gaming table has been limited. Further, in operation, thefunctionality of intelligent gaming tables were relatively constant oncethe intelligent gaming table was deployed, i.e., new peripherals devicesand new gaming software were infrequently added to the intelligentgaming table. This differs from a PC where users will go out and buydifferent combinations of devices and software from differentmanufacturers and connect them to a PC to suit their needs depending ona desired application. Therefore, the types of devices connected to a PCmay vary greatly from user to user depending in their individualrequirements and may vary significantly over time.

Although the variety of devices available for a PC may be greater thanon an intelligent gaming table, intelligent gaming tables still haveunique device requirements that differ from a PC, such as devicesecurity requirements not usually addressed by PCs. For instance,monetary devices, such as coin dispensers, bill validators and ticketprinters and computing devices that are used to govern the input andoutput of cash to an intelligent gaming table have security requirementsthat are not typically addressed in PCs. Therefore, many PC techniquesand methods developed to facilitate device connectivity and devicecompatibility do not address the emphasis placed on security in thegaming industry.

To address some of the issues described above, a number ofhardware/software components and architectures are utilized inintelligent gaming tables that are not typically found in generalpurpose computing devices, such as PCs. These hardware/softwarecomponents and architectures, as described below in more detail, includebut are not limited to watchdog timers, voltage monitoring systems,state-based software architecture and supporting hardware, specializedcommunication interfaces, security monitoring and trusted memory.

For example, a watchdog timer may be used in International GameTechnology (IGT) intelligent gaming tables to provide a software failuredetection mechanism. In a normally operating system, the operatingsoftware periodically accesses control registers in the watchdog timersubsystem to “re-trigger” the watchdog. Should the operating softwarefail to access the control registers within a preset timeframe, thewatchdog timer will timeout and generate a system reset. Typicalwatchdog timer circuits include a loadable timeout counter register toallow the operating software to set the timeout interval within acertain range of time. A differentiating feature of the some preferredcircuits is that the operating software cannot completely disable thefunction of the watchdog timer. In other words, the watchdog timeralways functions from the time power is applied to the board.

IGT gaming computer platforms preferably use several power supplyvoltages to operate portions of the computer circuitry. These can begenerated in a central power supply or locally on the computer board. Ifany of these voltages falls out of the tolerance limits of the circuitrythey power, unpredictable operation of the computer may result. Thoughmost modem general-purpose computers include voltage monitoringcircuitry, these types of circuits only report voltage status to theoperating software. Out of tolerance voltages can cause softwaremalfunction, creating a potential uncontrolled condition in the gamingcomputer. Intelligent gaming tables of the present assignee typicallyhave power supplies with tighter voltage margins than that required bythe operating circuitry. In addition, the voltage monitoring circuitryimplemented in IGT gaming computers typically has two thresholds ofcontrol. The first threshold generates a software event that can bedetected by the operating software and an error condition generated.This threshold is triggered when a power supply voltage falls out of thetolerance range of the power supply, but is still within the operatingrange of the circuitry. The second threshold is set when a power supplyvoltage falls out of the operating tolerance of the circuitry. In thiscase, the circuitry generates a reset, halting operation of thecomputer.

One method of operation for IGT slot machine game software is to use astate machine. Different functions of the game (bet, play, result,points in the graphical presentation, etc.) may be defined as a state.When a game moves from one state to another, critical data regarding thegame software is stored in a custom non-volatile memory subsystem. Thisis critical to ensure the player's wager and credits are preserved andto minimize potential disputes in the event of a malfunction on thegaming machine.

In general, the gaming machine does not advance from a first state to asecond state until critical information that allows the first state tobe reconstructed has been stored. This feature allows the game torecover operation to the current state of play in the event of amalfunction, loss of power, etc that occurred just prior to themalfunction. In at least one embodiment, the gaming machine isconfigured or designed to store such critical information using atomictransactions.

Generally, an atomic operation in computer science refers to a set ofoperations that can be combined so that they appear to the rest of thesystem to be a single operation with only two possible outcomes: successor failure. As related to data storage, an atomic transaction may becharacterized as series of database operations which either all occur,or all do not occur. A guarantee of atomicity prevents updates to thedatabase occurring only partially, which can result in data corruption.

In order to ensure the success of atomic transactions relating tocritical information to be stored in the gaming machine memory before afailure event (e.g., malfunction, loss of power, etc.), it is preferablethat memory be used which includes one or more of the followingcriteria: direct memory access capability; data read/write capabilitywhich meets or exceeds minimum read/write access characteristics (suchas, for example, at least 5.08 Mbytes/sec (Read) and/or at least 38.0Mbytes/sec (Write)). Devices which meet or exceed the above criteria maybe referred to as “fault-tolerant” memory devices, whereas it is whichthe above criteria may be referred to as “fault non-tolerant” memorydevices.

Typically, battery backed RAM devices may be configured or designed tofunction as fault-tolerant devices according to the above criteria,whereas flash RAM and/or disk drive memory are typically notconfigurable to function as fault-tolerant devices according to theabove criteria. Accordingly, battery backed RAM devices are typicallyused to preserve gaming machine critical data, although other types ofnon-volatile memory devices may be employed. These memory devices aretypically not used in typical general-purpose computers.

Thus, in at least one embodiment, the gaming machine is configured ordesigned to store critical information in fault-tolerant memory (e.g.,battery backed RAM devices) using atomic transactions. Further, in atleast one embodiment, the fault-tolerant memory is able to successfullycomplete all desired atomic transactions (e.g., relating to the storageof gaming machine critical information) within a time period of 200milliseconds (ms) or less. In at least one embodiment, the time periodof 200 ms represents a maximum amount of time for which sufficient powermay be available to the various gaming machine components after a poweroutage event has occurred at the gaming machine.

As described previously, the gaming machine may not advance from a firststate to a second state until critical information that allows the firststate to be reconstructed has been atomically stored. This featureallows the game to recover operation to the current state of play in theevent of a malfunction, loss of power, etc that occurred just prior tothe malfunction. After the state of the gaming machine is restoredduring the play of a game of chance, game play may resume and the gamemay be completed in a manner that is no different than if themalfunction had not occurred. Thus, for example, when a malfunctionoccurs during a game of chance, the gaming machine may be restored to astate in the game of chance just prior to when the malfunction occurred.The restored state may include metering information and graphicalinformation that was displayed on the gaming machine in the state priorto the malfunction. For example, when the malfunction occurs during theplay of a card game after the cards have been dealt, the gaming machinemay be restored with the cards that were previously displayed as part ofthe card game. As another example, a bonus game may be triggered duringthe play of a game of chance where a player is required to make a numberof selections on a video display screen. When a malfunction has occurredafter the player has made one or more selections, the gaming machine maybe restored to a state that shows the graphical presentation at the justprior to the malfunction including an indication of selections that havealready been made by the player. In general, the gaming machine may berestored to any state in a plurality of states that occur in the game ofchance that occurs while the game of chance is played or to states thatoccur between the play of a game of chance.

Game history information regarding previous games played such as anamount wagered, the outcome of the game and so forth may also be storedin a non-volatile memory device. The information stored in thenon-volatile memory may be detailed enough to reconstruct a portion ofthe graphical presentation that was previously presented on theintelligent gaming table and the state of the intelligent gaming table(e.g., credits) at the time the table game was played. The game historyinformation may be utilized in the event of a dispute. For example, aplayer may decide that in a previous table game that they did notreceive credit for an award that they believed they won. The gamehistory information may be used to reconstruct the state of theintelligent gaming table prior, during and/or after the disputed game todemonstrate whether the player was correct or not in their assertion.Further details of a state based gaming system, recovery frommalfunctions and game history are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,763,titled “High Performance Battery Backed RAM Interface”, U.S. Pat. No.6,863,608, titled “Frame Capture of Actual Game Play,” U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/243,104, titled, “Dynamic NV-RAM,” and U.S. application Ser.No. 10/758,828, titled, “Frame Capture of Actual Game Play,” each ofwhich is incorporated by reference and for all purposes.

Another feature of intelligent gaming tables, such as IGT gamingcomputers, is that they often include unique interfaces, includingserial interfaces, to connect to specific subsystems internal andexternal to the intelligent gaming table. The serial devices may haveelectrical interface requirements that differ from the “standard” EIA232 serial interfaces provided by general-purpose computers. Theseinterfaces may include EIA 485, EIA 422, Fiber Optic Serial, opticallycoupled serial interfaces, current loop style serial interfaces, etc. Inaddition, to conserve serial interfaces internally in the intelligentgaming table, serial devices may be connected in a shared, daisy-chainfashion where multiple peripheral devices are connected to a singleserial channel.

The serial interfaces may be used to transmit information usingcommunication protocols that are unique to the gaming industry. Forexample, IGT's Netplex is a proprietary communication protocol used forserial communication between gaming devices. As another example, SAS isa communication protocol used to transmit information, such as meteringinformation, from an intelligent gaming table to a remote device. OftenSAS is used in conjunction with a player tracking system.

IGT intelligent gaming tables may alternatively be treated as peripheraldevices to a casino communication controller and connected in a shareddaisy chain fashion to a single serial interface. In both cases, theperipheral devices are preferably assigned device addresses. If so, theserial controller circuitry must implement a method to generate ordetect unique device addresses. General-purpose computer serial portsare not able to do this.

Security monitoring circuits detect intrusion into an IGT intelligentgaming table by monitoring security switches attached to access doors inthe intelligent gaming table cabinet. Preferably, access violationsresult in suspension of game play and can trigger additional securityoperations to preserve the current state of game play. These circuitsalso function when power is off by use of a battery backup. In power-offoperation, these circuits continue to monitor the access doors of theintelligent gaming table. When power is restored, the intelligent gamingtable can determine whether any security violations occurred while powerwas off, e.g., via software for reading status registers. This cantrigger event log entries and further data authentication operations bythe intelligent gaming table software.

Trusted memory devices and/or trusted memory sources are preferablyincluded in an IGT intelligent gaming table computer to ensure theauthenticity of the software that may be stored on less secure memorysubsystems, such as mass storage devices. Trusted memory devices andcontrolling circuitry are typically designed to not allow modificationof the code and data stored in the memory device while the memory deviceis installed in the intelligent gaming table. The code and data storedin these devices may include authentication algorithms, random numbergenerators, authentication keys, operating system kernels, etc. Thepurpose of these trusted memory devices is to provide gaming regulatoryauthorities a root trusted authority within the computing environment ofthe intelligent gaming table that can be tracked and verified asoriginal. This may be accomplished via removal of the trusted memorydevice from the intelligent gaming table computer and verification ofthe secure memory device contents is a separate third party verificationdevice. Once the trusted memory device is verified as authentic, andbased on the approval of the verification algorithms included in thetrusted device, the intelligent gaming table is allowed to verify theauthenticity of additional code and data that may be located in thegaming computer assembly, such as code and data stored on hard diskdrives. A few details related to trusted memory devices that may be usedin the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,567, filedAug. 8, 2001 and titled “Process Verification,” and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/221,314, filed Sep. 6, 2005, each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

In at least one embodiment, at least a portion of the trusted memorydevices/sources may correspond to memory which cannot easily be altered(e.g., “unalterable memory”) such as, for example, EPROMS, PROMS, Bios,Extended Bios, and/or other memory sources which are able to beconfigured, verified, and/or authenticated (e.g., for authenticity) in asecure and controlled manner.

According to a specific implementation, when a trusted informationsource is in communication with a remote device via a network, theremote device may employ a verification scheme to verify the identity ofthe trusted information source. For example, the trusted informationsource and the remote device may exchange information using public andprivate encryption keys to verify each other's identities. In anotherembodiment of the present invention, the remote device and the trustedinformation source may engage in methods using zero knowledge proofs toauthenticate each of their respective identities. Details of zeroknowledge proofs that may be used with the present invention aredescribed in US publication no. 2003/0203756, by Jackson, filed on Apr.25, 2002 and entitled, “Authentication in a Secure Computerized GamingSystem”, which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for allpurposes.

Gaming devices storing trusted information may utilize apparatus ormethods to detect and prevent tampering. For instance, trustedinformation stored in a trusted memory device may be encrypted toprevent its misuse. In addition, the trusted memory device may besecured behind a locked door. Further, one or more sensors may becoupled to the memory device to detect tampering with the memory deviceand provide some record of the tampering. In yet another example, thememory device storing trusted information might be designed to detecttampering attempts and clear or erase itself when an attempt attampering has been detected.

Additional details relating to trusted memory devices/sources aredescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/078,966, entitled“SECURED VIRTUAL NETWORK IN A GAMING ENVIRONMENT”, naming Nguyen et al.as inventors, filed on Mar. 10, 2005, herein incorporated in itsentirety and for all purposes.

Mass storage devices used in a general purpose computer typically allowcode and data to be read from and written to the mass storage device. Inan intelligent gaming table environment, modification of the gaming codestored on a mass storage device is strictly controlled and would only beallowed under specific maintenance type events with electronic andphysical enablers required. Though this level of security could beprovided by software, IGT gaming computers that include mass storagedevices preferably include hardware level mass storage data protectioncircuitry that operates at the circuit level to monitor attempts tomodify data on the mass storage device and will generate both softwareand hardware error triggers should a data modification be attemptedwithout the proper electronic and physical enablers being present.Details using a mass storage device that may be used with the presentinvention are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,522, hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary intelligent gamingtable system 400 in accordance with a specific embodiment. Asillustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 4, intelligent gaming table system400 includes at least one processor 410, at least one interface 406, andmemory 416.

In one implementation, processor 410 and master table controller 412 areincluded in a logic device 413 enclosed in a logic device housing. Theprocessor 410 may include any conventional processor or logic deviceconfigured to execute software allowing various configuration andreconfiguration tasks such as, for example: a) communicating with aremote source via communication interface 406, such as a server thatstores authentication information or games; b) converting signals readby an interface to a format corresponding to that used by software ormemory in the intelligent gaming table; c) accessing memory to configureor reconfigure game parameters in the memory according to indicia readfrom the device; d) communicating with interfaces, various peripheraldevices 422 and/or I/O devices; e) operating peripheral devices 422 suchas, for example, card readers, paper ticket readers, etc.; f) operatingvarious I/O devices such as, for example, displays 435, input devices430; etc. For instance, the processor 410 may send messages includinggame play information to the displays 435 to inform players of cardsdealt, wagering information, and/or other desired information.

Peripheral devices 422 may include several device interfaces such as,for example: transponders 454, wire/wireless power supply devices, PPDdocking components, player tracking devices, card readers, billvalidator/paper ticket readers, etc. Such devices may each compriseresources for handling and processing configuration indicia such as amicrocontroller that converts voltage levels for one or more scanningdevices to signals provided to processor 410. In one embodiment,application software for interfacing with peripheral devices 422 maystore instructions (such as, for example, how to read indicia from aportable device) in a memory device such as, for example, non-volatilememory, hard drive or a flash memory.

In at least one implementation, the intelligent gaming table may includecard readers such as used with credit cards, or other identificationcode reading devices to allow or require player identification inconnection with play of the card game and associated recording of gameaction. Such a user identification interface can be implemented in theform of a variety of magnetic card readers commercially available forreading a user-specific identification information. The user-specificinformation can be provided on specially constructed magnetic cardsissued by a casino, or magnetically coded credit cards or debit cardsfrequently used with national credit organizations such as VISA,MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, or banks and other institutions.

The intelligent gaming table may include other types of participantidentification mechanisms which may use a fingerprint image, eye bloodvessel image reader, or other suitable biological information to confirmidentity of the user. Still further it is possible to provide suchparticipant identification information by having the dealer manuallycode in the information in response to the player indicating his or hercode name or real name. Such additional identification could also beused to confirm credit use of a smart card, transponder, and/or player'sPPD.

The intelligent gaming table system 400 also includes memory 416 whichmay include, for example, volatile memory (e.g., RAM 409), non-volatilememory 419 (e.g., disk memory, FLASH memory, EPROMs, etc.), unalterablememory (e.g., EPROMs 408), etc. The memory may be configured or designedto store, for example: 1) configuration software 414 such as all theparameters and settings for a game playable on the intelligent gamingtable; 2) associations 418 between configuration indicia read from adevice with one or more parameters and settings; 3) communicationprotocols allowing the processor 410 to communicate with peripheraldevices 422 and I/O devices 411; 4) a secondary memory storage device415 such as a non-volatile memory device, configured to store gamingsoftware related information (the gaming software related informationand memory may be used to store various audio files and games notcurrently being used and invoked in a configuration or reconfiguration);5) communication transport protocols (such as, for example, TCP/IP, USB,Firewire, IEEE1394, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x (IEEE 802.11 standards),hiperlan/2, HomeRF, etc.) for allowing the intelligent gaming table tocommunicate with local and non-local devices using such protocols; etc.In one implementation, the master table controller 412 communicatesusing a serial communication protocol. A few examples of serialcommunication protocols that may be used to communicate with the mastertable controller include but are not limited to USB, RS-232 and Netplex(a proprietary protocol developed by IGT, Reno, Nev.).

A plurality of device drivers 442 may be stored in memory 416. Exampleof different types of device drivers may include device drivers forintelligent gaming table components, device drivers for peripheralcomponents 422, etc. Typically, the device drivers 442 utilize acommunication protocol of some type that enables communication with aparticular physical device. The device driver abstracts the hardwareimplementation of a device. For example, a device drive may be writtenfor each type of card reader that may be potentially connected to theintelligent gaming table. Examples of communication protocols used toimplement the device drivers include Netplex, USB, Serial, Ethernet 475,Firewire, I/O debouncer, direct memory map, serial, PCI, parallel, RF,Bluetooth™, near-field communications (e.g., using near-fieldmagnetics), 802.11 (WiFi), etc. Netplex is a proprietary IGT standardwhile the others are open standards. According to a specific embodiment,when one type of a particular device is exchanged for another type ofthe particular device, a new device driver may be loaded from the memory416 by the processor 410 to allow communication with the device. Forinstance, one type of card reader in intelligent gaming table system 400may be replaced with a second type of card reader where device driversfor both card readers are stored in the memory 416.

In some embodiments, the software units stored in the memory 416 may beupgraded as needed. For instance, when the memory 416 is a hard drive,new games, game options, various new parameters, new settings forexisting parameters, new settings for new parameters, device drivers,and new communication protocols may be uploaded to the memory from themaster table controller 412 or from some other external device. Asanother example, when the memory 416 includes a CD/DVD drive including aCD/DVD designed or configured to store game options, parameters, andsettings, the software stored in the memory may be upgraded by replacinga first CD/DVD with a second CD/DVD. In yet another example, when thememory 416 uses one or more flash memory 419 or EPROM 408 units designedor configured to store games, game options, parameters, settings, thesoftware stored in the flash and/or EPROM memory units may be upgradedby replacing one or more memory units with new memory units whichinclude the upgraded software. In another embodiment, one or more of thememory devices, such as the hard-drive, may be employed in a gamesoftware download process from a remote software server.

In some embodiments, the intelligent gaming table system 400 may alsoinclude various authentication and/or validation components 444 whichmay be used for authenticating/validating specified intelligent gamingtable components such as, for example, hardware components, softwarecomponents, firmware components, information stored in the intelligentgaming table memory 416, etc. Examples of various authentication and/orvalidation components are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,047,entitled, “ELECTRONIC GAMING APPARATUS HAVING AUTHENTICATION DATA SETS,”incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Peripheral devices 422 may also include other devices/component(s) suchas, for example: sensors 460, cameras 462, control consoles 420,transponders 454, wireless communication component(s) 456, wirelesspower component(s) 458, PPD docking component(s) 452, wager/gaming chiptracking component(s) 470, player tracking management component(s) 472,game state tracking component(s) 474, etc.

Sensors 460 may include, for example, optical sensors, pressure sensors,RF sensors, Infrared sensors, image sensors, thermal sensors, biometricsensors, etc. As mentioned previously, such sensors may be used for avariety of functions such as, for example: detecting the presence and/ormonetary amount of gaming chips which have been placed within a player'swagering zone; detecting (e.g., in real time) the presence and/ormonetary amount of gaming chips which are within the player's personalspace; detecting the presence and/or identity of PPDs placed within aplayer's PPD docking region, etc.

In one implementation, at least a portion of the sensors 460 and/orinput devices 430 may be implemented in the form of touch keys selectedfrom a wide variety of commercially available touch keys used to provideelectrical control signals. Alternatively, some of the touch keys may beimplemented in another form which are touch sensors such as thoseprovided by a touchscreen display. For example, in at least oneimplementation, the intelligent gaming table player displays and/or PPDdisplays may include input functionality for allowing players to providetheir game play decisions/instructions (and/or other input) to thedealer using the touch keys and/or other player control sensors/buttons.Additionally, such input functionality may also be used for allowingplayers to provide input to other devices in the casino gaming network(such as, for example, player tracking systems, side wagering systems,etc.)

Wireless communication components 456 may include one or morecommunication interfaces having different architectures and utilizing avariety of protocols such as, for example, 802.11 (WiFi), 802.15(including Bluetooth™), 802.16 (WiMax), 802.22, Cellular standards suchas CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, Radio Frequency (e.g., RFID), Infrared, NearField Magnetic communication protocols, etc. The communication links maytransmit electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals which carrydigital data streams or analog signals representing various types ofinformation.

Wireless power components 458 may include, for example, components ordevices which are operable for providing wireless power to otherdevices. For example, in one implementation, the wireless powercomponents 458 may include a magnetic induction system which is adaptedto provide wireless power to one or more PPDs at the intelligent gamingtable. In one implementation, a PPD docking region may include awireless power component which is able to recharge a PPD placed withinthe PPD docking region without requiring metal-to-metal contact.

According to a specific embodiment, Table Control Console 420 may beused to facilitate and execute game play operations, table configurationoperations, player tracking operations, maintenance and inspectionoperations, etc. In one implementation, the Table Control Console 420may include at least one display for displaying desired information,such as, for example, programming options which are available in settingup the system and customizing operational parameters to the desiredsettings for a particular casino or cardroom in which the system isbeing used. The Table Control Console 420 may also include a keyoperated switch which is used to control basic operation of the systemand for placing the unit into a programming mode. The key operatedswitch can provide two levels of access authorization which restrictsaccess by dealers to programming, or additional security requirementscan be provided in the software which restricts programming changes tomanagement personnel. Programming may be input in several differentmodes.

For example, in a specific embodiment where the intelligent gaming tableis configured as a blackjack gaming table, programming can be providedusing a touch screen display with varying options presented thereon andthe programming personnel can set various operational and rulesparameters, such as, for example: the shuffle mode, number of decks ofcards used in the virtual card stack, options with regard to the portionof the stack which is used before the stack is cut, limits on theamounts which can be bet at a particular table, whether splits areaccepted for play and to what degree, options concerning doubling downplays, whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 37, and other rules canbe made variable dependent upon the particular form of the systemprogramming used in the system, depending on the type of card game beingplayed. Control keys may also be used in some forms of the invention toallow various menu options to be displayed and programming options to beselected using the control keys. Still further it is possible to attachan auxiliary keyboard (not shown) to the Table Control Console through akeyboard connection port. The auxiliary keyboard can then be used tomore easily program the system, or be used in maintenance, diagnosticfunctions, etc.

According to specific embodiments, the Table Control Console 420 mayalso include a plurality of dealer operational controls provided in theform of dealer control sensors which, for example, may be implementedvia electrical touch keys. The dealer control sensors may be used by thedealer to indicate that desired control functions should take place orfurther proceed. For example, different sensors may be used to implementa player's decision to: split his two similar cards and play them as twoseparate or split hands; double down; stand on the cards already dealtor assigned to that player; etc. Other sensors may be used to:

-   -   command shuffling and dealing of a new hands to the        participants;    -   collect a player's cards;    -   show a player's cards;    -   verify PPD data (e.g., verify that a PPD is displaying the        correct cards to the player without revealing the cards in the        player's hand);    -   deal new cards to selected players; authenticate a player's PPD;    -   activate a PPD;    -   replace a player's PPD with an alternate PPD;    -   call security;    -   request cocktail service;    -   recall previous game play data;    -   control display of multimedia content;    -   enable/disable PPDs;    -   read player selections;    -   start a player tracking session;    -   suspend a player tracking session;    -   resume a player tracking session;    -   merge two or more player tracking sessions;    -   end and/or close a player tracking session;    -   etc.

It will be appreciated that other functions may be attributed to otherkeys or input sensors of various types. For example, in oneimplementation, at least a portion of the Table Control Console touchkeys can be assigned to implement additional functions, such as inchangeable soft key assignments during the programming or setup of thesystem.

According to specific embodiments, the wager/gaming chip trackingcomponent 470 may be adapted to automatically detect the presence and/ormonetary amount of gaming chips which are located within a player'swagering zone (e.g., 302) and/or which are located with the player'spersonal space at the gaming table (such as, for example, the regiondefined by region 350 of FIG. 3). In one implementation, eachwager/gaming chip tracking component 470 includes one or more gamingchip sensors which are immediately below or otherwise adjacent to arespective player station at the gaming table. The gaming chip sensorsmay be selected from several different types of sensors.

One suitable type of sensor is a weigh cell which senses the presence ofa gaming chip thereon so that the master table controller knows at thestart of a hand, that a player is participating in the next hand beingplayed. A variety of weigh cells can be used. Another suitable type ofsensor includes optical sensors. Such optical sensors can bephotosensitive detectors which use changes in the sensed level of lightstriking the detectors. For example, in one implementation, the wageringsensor may use ambient light which beams from area lighting of thecasino or other room in which it is placed. When a typical gaming chipis placed in a player's wagering zone (e.g., 302), the amount of lightstriking the detector located beneath the zone is measurably diminishedby the opaque gaming chip. The detector conveys a suitable electricalsignal which indicates that a gaming chip has been placed within thewagering zone 302. A variety of other alternative detectors can also beused. A further type of preferred gaming chip sensor is one which candetect coding included on or in the gaming chips to ascertain the valueof the gaming chip or chips being placed by the players into the playerwagering zones. A preferred form of this type of sensor or detector isused to detect an integrated circuit based radio frequencyidentification (RFID) unit which is included in or on the gaming chips.Such sensors are sometimes referred to as radio frequency identificationdetection or read-write stations.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other memory types,including various computer readable media, may be used for storing andexecuting program instructions pertaining to the operation of thepresent invention. Because such information and program instructions maybe employed to implement the systems/methods described herein, thepresent invention relates to machine-readable media that include programinstructions, state information, etc. for performing various operationsdescribed herein. Examples of machine-readable media include, but arenot limited to, magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, andmagnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROM disks; magneto-optical mediasuch as floptical disks; and hardware devices that are speciallyconfigured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-onlymemory devices (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). The invention mayalso be embodied in a carrier wave traveling over an appropriate mediumsuch as airwaves, optical lines, electric lines, etc. Examples ofprogram instructions include both machine code, such as produced by acompiler, and files including higher level code that may be executed bythe computer using an interpreter.

According to specific embodiments, a variety of different game statesmay be used to characterize the state of current and/or past eventswhich are occurring (or have occurred) at a selected gaming table. Forexample, in one embodiment, at any given time in a game, a valid currentgame state may be used to characterize the state of game play (and/orother related events, such as, for example, mode of operation of thegaming table, etc.) at that particular time. In at least one embodiment,multiple different states may be used to characterize different statesor events which occur at the gaming table at any given time. In oneembodiment, when faced with ambiguity of game state, a single stateembodiment forces a decision such that one valid current game state ischosen. In a multiple state embodiment, multiple possible game statesmay exist simultaneously at any given time in a game, and at the end ofthe game or at any point in the middle of the game, the gaming table mayanalyze the different game states and select one of them based oncertain criteria. Thus, for example, when faced with ambiguity of gamestate, the multiple state embodiment(s) allow all potential game statesto exist and move forward, thus deferring the decision of choosing onegame state to a later point in the game. The multiple game stateembodiment(s) may also be more effective in handling ambiguous data orgame state scenarios.

According to specific embodiments, a variety of different entities maybe used (e.g., either singly or in combination) to track the progress ofgame states which occur at a given gaming table. Examples of suchentities may include, but are not limited to, one or more of thefollowing (or combination thereof): master table controller, local gametracking component(s), remote game tracking component(s), etc. Examplesof various game tracking components may include, but are not limited to:automated sensors, manually operated sensors, video cameras, intelligentplaying card shoes, RFID readers/writers, RFID tagged chips, etc.

According to a specific embodiment, local game tracking components atthe gaming table may be operable to automatically monitor game playactivities at the gaming table, and/or to automatically identify keyevents which may trigger a transition of game state from one state toanother as a game progresses. For example, in the case of Blackjack, akey event may include one or more events which indicate a change in thestate of a game such as, for example: a new card being added to a cardhand, the split of a card hand, a card hand being moved, a new cardprovided from a shoe, removal or disappearance of a card by occlusion,etc.

Depending upon the type of game being played at the gaming table,examples of other possible key events may include, but are not limitedto, one or more of the following (or combination thereof):

-   -   start of a new hand/round;    -   end of a current hand/round;    -   start of a roulette wheel spin;    -   game start event;    -   game end event;    -   initial wager period start;    -   initial wager period end;    -   initial deal period start;    -   initial deal period end;    -   player card draw/decision period start;    -   player card draw/decision period end;    -   subsequent wager period start;    -   subsequent wager period end;    -   rake period start;    -   rake period end;    -   payout period start;    -   payout period end;    -   start of card burning period;    -   end of card burning period;    -   etc.

Additional details relating to various aspects of gaming table activitymonitoring and/or other aspects of casino gaming technology aredescribed in at least some of the following references:

U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20060252554A1, entitled GAMING OBJECTPOSITION ANALYSIS AND TRACKING, filed Mar. 21, 2006, by Gururajan, etal., herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes;

U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20050272501A1, entitled AUTOMATED GAMEMONITORING, filed Feb. 8, 2005, by Tran, et al., herein incorporated byreference in its entirety for all purposes;

U.S. Patent/Publication Number U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,204B2, entitledMULTIPLE CAMERA CONTROL SYSTEM, filed Sep. 26, 2001, by Hildreth, etal., herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes;

U.S. Patent/Publication Number U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,917A, entitled VIDEOIMAGE BASED CONTROL SYSTEM, filed May 9, 1991, by MacDougall, hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes;

U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20060252521A1, entitled TABLE GAMETRACKING, filed Mar. 21, 2006, by Gururajan, et al., herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety for all purposes;

U.S. Patent/Publication Number US2004876620A, entitled APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR A CARD DISPENSING SYSTEM, filed Jun. 28, 2004, by Gururajan,herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes;

U.S. Patent/Publication Number US2004876620A, entitled APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR A CARD DISPENSING SYSTEM, filed Jun. 28, 2004, by Gururajan,herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes;

U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20050026680A1, entitled SYSTEM,APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRACKING A TABLE GAME, filed Jun.28, 2004, by Gururajan, herein incorporated by reference in its entiretyfor all purposes;

U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20020034978A1, entitled ACTIVITYMANAGEMENT SYSTEM, filed Oct. 9, 2001, by Legge, et al., hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes; and

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/595,798, filed on Nov. 10, 2006 (Attorneydocket. No. IGT1P337/P-1121A), naming Little, et al. as inventors, andtitled, “REMOTE CONTENT MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE SHARING ON A GAMINGMACHINE AND METHOD OF IMPLEMENTING SAME,” which is incorporated hereinby reference and for all purposes.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/040,239, entitled, “GAME DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE THAT DECOUPLES THE GAME LOGIC FROM THE GRAPHICS LOGIC,”published on Apr. 24, 2003 as U.S. Patent Publication No. 20030078103,which is incorporated herein by reference and for all purposes;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/425,998 (Attorney Docket No.IGT1P238/P-1049), entitled “PROGRESSIVE TABLE GAME BONUSING SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS,” by Nguyen et al, which is incorporated herein by reference andfor all purposes; and

U.S. Patent/Publication Number US20060287068A1, entitled PROBLEMGAMBLING DETECTION IN TABLETOP GAMES, filed Jun. 6, 2006, by Walker, etal., herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Other System Embodiments

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram illustrating components of a gaming system900 which may be used for implementing various aspects of exampleembodiments. In FIG. 9, the components of a gaming system 900 forproviding game software licensing and downloads are describedfunctionally. The described functions may be instantiated in hardware,firmware and/or software and executed on a suitable device. In thesystem 900, there may be many instances of the same function, such asmultiple game play interfaces 911. Nevertheless, in FIG. 9, only oneinstance of each function is shown. The functions of the components maybe combined. For example, a single device may comprise the game playinterface 911 and include trusted memory devices or sources 909.

The gaming system 900 may receive inputs from different groups/entitiesand output various services and or information to these groups/entities.For example, game players 925 primarily input cash or indicia of creditinto the system, make game selections that trigger software downloads,and receive entertainment in exchange for their inputs. Game softwarecontent providers provide game software for the system and may receivecompensation for the content they provide based on licensing agreementswith the gaming machine operators. Gaming machine operators select gamesoftware for distribution, distribute the game software on the gamingdevices in the system 900, receive revenue for the use of their softwareand compensate the gaming machine operators. The gaming regulators 930may provide rules and regulations that must be applied to the gamingsystem and may receive reports and other information confirming thatrules are being obeyed.

In the following paragraphs, details of each component and some of theinteractions between the components are described with respect to FIG.9. The game software license host 901 may be a server connected to anumber of remote gaming devices that provides licensing services to theremote gaming devices. For example, in other embodiments, the licensehost 901 may 1) receive token requests for tokens used to activatesoftware executed on the remote gaming devices, 2) send tokens to theremote gaming devices, 3) track token usage and 4) grant and/or renewsoftware licenses for software executed on the remote gaming devices.The token usage may be used in utility based licensing schemes, such asa pay-per-use scheme.

In another embodiment, a game usage-tracking host 915 may track theusage of game software on a plurality of devices in communication withthe host. The game usage-tracking host 915 may be in communication witha plurality of game play hosts and gaming machines. From the game playhosts and gaming machines, the game usage tracking host 915 may receiveupdates of an amount that each game available for play on the deviceshas been played and on amount that has been wagered per game. Thisinformation may be stored in a database and used for billing accordingto methods described in a utility based licensing agreement.

The game software host 902 may provide game software downloads, such asdownloads of game software or game firmware, to various devious in thegame system 900. For example, when the software to generate the game isnot available on the game play interface 911, the game software host 902may download software to generate a selected game of chance played onthe game play interface. Further, the game software host 902 maydownload new game content to a plurality of gaming machines via arequest from a gaming machine operator.

In one embodiment, the game software host 902 may also be a gamesoftware configuration-tracking host 913. The function of the gamesoftware configuration-tracking host is to keep records of softwareconfigurations and/or hardware configurations for a plurality of devicesin communication with the host (e.g., denominations, number of paylines,paytables, max/min bets). Details of a game software host and a gamesoftware configuration host that may be used with example embodimentsare described in co-pending U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,077, by Rowe, entitled,“Gaming Terminal Data Repository and Information System,” filed Dec. 21,2000, which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

A game play host device 903 may be a host server connected to aplurality of remote clients that generates games of chance that aredisplayed on a plurality of remote game play interfaces 911. Forexample, the game play host device 903 may be a server that providescentral determination for a bingo game play played on a plurality ofconnected game play interfaces 911. As another example, the game playhost device 903 may generate games of chance, such as slot games orvideo card games, for display on a remote client. A game player usingthe remote client may be able to select from a number of games that areprovided on the client by the host device 903. The game play host device903 may receive game software management services, such as receivingdownloads of new game software, from the game software host 902 and mayreceive game software licensing services, such as the granting orrenewing of software licenses for software executed on the device 903,from the game license host 901.

In particular embodiments, the game play interfaces or other gamingdevices in the gaming system 900 may be portable devices, such aselectronic tokens, cell phones, smart cards, tablet PC's and PDA's. Theportable devices may support wireless communications and thus, may bereferred to as wireless mobile devices. The network hardwarearchitecture 916 may be enabled to support communications betweenwireless mobile devices and other gaming devices in gaming system. Inone embodiment, the wireless mobile devices may be used to play games ofchance.

The gaming system 900 may use a number of trusted information sources.Trusted information sources 904 may be devices, such as servers, thatprovide information used to authenticate/activate other pieces ofinformation. CRC values used to authenticate software, license tokensused to allow the use of software or product activation codes used toactivate to software are examples of trusted information that might beprovided from a trusted information source 904. Trusted informationsources may be a memory device, such as an EPROM, that includes trustedinformation used to authenticate other information. For example, a gameplay interface 911 may store a private encryption key in a trustedmemory device that is used in a private key-public key encryption schemeto authenticate information from another gaming device.

When a trusted information source 904 is in communication with a remotedevice via a network, the remote device will employ a verificationscheme to verify the identity of the trusted information source. Forexample, the trusted information source and the remote device mayexchange information using public and private encryption keys to verifyeach other's identities. In another example of an embodiment, the remotedevice and the trusted information source may engage in methods usingzero knowledge proofs to authenticate each of their respectiveidentities. Details of zero knowledge proofs that may be used withexample embodiments are described in US publication no. 2003/0203756, byJackson, filed on Apr. 25, 2002 and entitled, “Authentication in aSecure Computerized Gaming System, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety and for all purposes.

Gaming devices storing trusted information might utilize apparatus ormethods to detect and prevent tampering. For instance, trustedinformation stored in a trusted memory device may be encrypted toprevent its misuse. In addition, the trusted memory device may besecured behind a locked door. Further, one or more sensors may becoupled to the memory device to detect tampering with the memory deviceand provide some record of the tampering. In yet another example, thememory device storing trusted information might be designed to detecttampering attempts and clear or erase itself when an attempt attampering has been detected.

The gaming system 900 of example embodiments may include devices 906that provide authorization to download software from a first device to asecond device and devices 907 that provide activation codes orinformation that allow downloaded software to be activated. The devices,906 and 907, may be remote servers and may also be trusted informationsources. One example of a method of providing product activation codesthat may be used with example embodiments is describes in previouslyincorporated U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,561.

A device 906 that monitors a plurality of gaming devices to determineadherence of the devices to gaming jurisdictional rules 908 may beincluded in the system 900. In one embodiment, a gaming jurisdictionalrule server may scan software and the configurations of the software ona number of gaming devices in communication with the gaming rule serverto determine whether the software on the gaming devices is valid for usein the gaming jurisdiction where the gaming device is located. Forexample, the gaming rule server may request a digital signature, such asCRC's, of particular software components and compare them with anapproved digital signature value stored on the gaming jurisdictionalrule server.

Further, the gaming jurisdictional rule server may scan the remotegaming device to determine whether the software is configured in amanner that is acceptable to the gaming jurisdiction where the gamingdevice is located. For example, a maximum bet limit may vary fromjurisdiction to jurisdiction and the rule enforcement server may scan agaming device to determine its current software configuration and itslocation and then compare the configuration on the gaming device withapproved parameters for its location.

A gaming jurisdiction may include rules that describe how game softwaremay be downloaded and licensed. The gaming jurisdictional rule servermay scan download transaction records and licensing records on a gamingdevice to determine whether the download and licensing was carried outin a manner that is acceptable to the gaming jurisdiction in which thegaming device is located. In general, the game jurisdictional ruleserver may be utilized to confirm compliance to any gaming rules passedby a gaming jurisdiction when the information needed to determine rulecompliance is remotely accessible to the server.

Game software, firmware or hardware residing a particular gaming devicemay also be used to check for compliance with local gamingjurisdictional rules. In one embodiment, when a gaming device isinstalled in a particular gaming jurisdiction, a software programincluding jurisdiction rule information may be downloaded to a securememory location on a gaming machine or the jurisdiction rule informationmay be downloaded as data and utilized by a program on the gamingmachine. The software program and/or jurisdiction rule information mayused to check the gaming device software and software configurations forcompliance with local gaming jurisdictional rules. In anotherembodiment, the software program for ensuring compliance andjurisdictional information may be installed in the gaming machine priorto its shipping, such as at the factory where the gaming machine ismanufactured.

The gaming devices in game system 900 may utilize trusted softwareand/or trusted firmware. Trusted firmware/software is trusted in thesense that is used with the assumption that it has not been tamperedwith. For instance, trusted software/firmware may be used toauthenticate other game software or processes executing on a gamingdevice. As an example, trusted encryption programs and authenticationprograms may be stored on an EPROM on the gaming machine or encoded intoa specialized encryption chip. As another example, trusted gamesoftware, i.e., game software approved for use on gaming devices by alocal gaming jurisdiction may be required on gaming devices on thegaming machine.

In example embodiments, the devices may be connected by a network 916with different types of hardware using different hardware architectures.Game software can be quite large and frequent downloads can place asignificant burden on a network, which may slow information transferspeeds on the network. For game-on-demand services that require frequentdownloads of game software in a network, efficient downloading isessential for the service to viable. Thus, in example embodiments,network efficient devices 910 may be used to actively monitor andmaintain network efficiency. For instance, software locators may be usedto locate nearby locations of game software for peer-to-peer transfersof game software. In another example, network traffic may be monitoredand downloads may be actively rerouted to maintain network efficiency.

One or more devices in example embodiments may provide game software andgame licensing related auditing, billing and reconciliation reports toserver 912. For example, a software licensing billing server maygenerate a bill for a gaming device operator based upon a usage of gamesover a time period on the gaming devices owned by the operator. Inanother example, a software auditing server may provide reports on gamesoftware downloads to various gaming devices in the gaming system 900and current configurations of the game software on these gaming devices.

At particular time intervals, the software auditing server 912 may alsorequest software configurations from a number of gaming devices in thegaming system. The server may then reconcile the software configurationon each gaming device. In one embodiment, the software auditing server912 may store a record of software configurations on each gaming deviceat particular times and a record of software download transactions thathave occurred on the device. By applying each of the recorded gamesoftware download transactions since a selected time to the softwareconfiguration recorded at the selected time, a software configuration isobtained. The software auditing server may compare the softwareconfiguration derived from applying these transactions on a gamingdevice with a current software configuration obtained from the gamingdevice. After the comparison, the software-auditing server may generatea reconciliation report that confirms that the download transactionrecords are consistent with the current software configuration on thedevice. The report may also identify any inconsistencies. In anotherembodiment, both the gaming device and the software auditing server maystore a record of the download transactions that have occurred on thegaming device and the software auditing server may reconcile theserecords.

There are many possible interactions between the components describedwith respect to FIG. 9. Many of the interactions are coupled. Forexample, methods used for game licensing may affect methods used forgame downloading and vice versa. For the purposes of explanation,details of a few possible interactions between the components of thesystem 900 relating to software licensing and software downloads havebeen described. The descriptions are selected to illustrate particularinteractions in the game system 900. These descriptions are provided forthe purposes of explanation only and are not intended to limit the scopeof example embodiments described herein.

Techniques and mechanisms of the present invention will sometimes bedescribed in singular form for clarity. However, it should be noted thatparticular embodiments include multiple iterations of a technique ormultiple instantiations of a mechanism unless noted otherwise.

Various embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or computerprogram products for facilitating player tracking activities at a casinogaming table which includes a plurality of player stations. At least oneembodiment may include functionality for: automatically detecting apresence of a first player at the gaming table; determining a first setof criteria relating to initiation of a player tracking session for thefirst player; automatically determining whether the first set ofcriteria has been satisfied; delaying initiation of the player trackingsession for the first player in response to a determination that thefirst set of criteria has not been satisfied; and automaticallyinitiating the player tracking session for the first player in responseto a determination that the first set of criteria has been satisfied.

Some embodiments may further include functionality for tracking, inresponse to initiating the player tracking session for the first player,player rating information associated with activities performed by thefirst player at the gaming table.

Some embodiments may further include functionality for automatically andpassively determining an identity of the first player; and automaticallyand passively associating the first player with a selected playerstation at the gaming table.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of a presence of the player's player trackingdevice within a predetermined region of space.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of a presence of at least one gaming chip within awagering zone associated with the player.

Some embodiments may further include functionality for automaticallyassociating the first player with a selected player station at thegaming table, wherein the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of a presence of at least one gaming chip within awagering zone associated with the selected player station.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of input from the first player to initiate aplayer tracking session for the first player.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of a presence of the player's player trackingdevice as being located within a predetermined region of space; and/orthe first set of criteria specifies a second event relating to detectionof a presence of at least one gaming chip within a specified gaming chipplacement area.

Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or computerprogram products for facilitating player tracking activities at a casinogaming table which includes a plurality of player stations. At least oneembodiment may include functionality for: automatically detecting apresence of a first player at the gaming table; initiating a playertracking session for the first player; determining a first set ofcriteria relating to suspension of the player tracking session for thefirst player; automatically determining whether the first set ofcriteria has been satisfied; and automatically suspending the playertracking session for the first player in response to a determinationthat the first set of criteria has been satisfied.

Some embodiments may further include functionality for delayingsuspension of the player tracking session for the first player inresponse to a determination that the first set of criteria has not beensatisfied.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of an absence of the first player at the gamingtable.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of the player's player tracking device as notbeing within a predetermined region of space.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of detection of input from the first player tosuspend the player tracking session.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of no wagering activity being conducted by thefirst player within a predetermined time interval.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of an absence of at least one gaming chip within aspecified gaming chip placement area of the gaming table.

Some embodiments may further include functionality for: determining asecond set of criteria relating to resumption of the suspended playertracking session for the first player; automatically determining whetherthe second set of criteria has been satisfied; and automaticallyresuming the suspended player tracking session for the first player inresponse to a determination that the second set of criteria has beensatisfied.

Other embodiments may be directed to methods, systems and/or computerprogram products for facilitating player tracking activities at a casinogaming table which includes a plurality of player stations. At least oneembodiment may include functionality for: automatically detecting apresence of a first player at the gaming table; initiating a playertracking session for the first player; determining a first set ofcriteria relating to ending of the player tracking session for the firstplayer; automatically determining whether the first set of criteria hasbeen satisfied; and automatically ending the player tracking session forthe first player in response to a determination that the first set ofcriteria has been satisfied.

Some embodiments may further include functionality for delaying endingof the player tracking session for the first player in response to adetermination that the first set of criteria has not been satisfied.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of an absence of the first player at the gamingtable.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of the player's player tracking device as notbeing within a predetermined region of space.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of detection of input from the first player to endthe player tracking session.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of no wagering activity being conducted by thefirst player within a predetermined time interval.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of an absence of at least one gaming chip within aspecified gaming chip placement area of the gaming table.

In some embodiments, the first set of criteria specifies a first eventrelating to detection of an occurrence of a timeout event relating tothe first player's player tracking session.

Some embodiments may further include functionality for automaticallyclosing the player tracking session in response to the ending of theplayer tracking session, wherein the closing of the player trackingsession includes automatically estimating an amount of gaming chipscurrently in possession of the first player.

Some embodiments may further include functionality for automaticallyclosing the player tracking session in response to the ending of theplayer tracking session, wherein the closing of the player trackingsession includes automatically estimating an amount of gaming chips inpossession of the first player as of a time when the player trackingsession was ended.

This application incorporates by reference for all purposes U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/214,936 (Attorney Docket No.IGT1P061X1/P-573CIP), entitled “FLEXIBLE LOYALTY POINTS PROGRAMS” byKaminkow et al., filed on Aug. 6, 2002.

This application incorporates by reference for all purposes U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/927,742 (Attorney Docket No. IGT1P061/P-573)entitled “FLEXIBLE LOYALTY POINTS PROGRAMS,” filed Aug. 10, 2001.

This application incorporates by reference for all purposes U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/170,278 (Attorney Docket No. IGT1P082/P-713),entitled “PLAYER TRACKING ASSEMBLY FOR COMPLETE PATRON TRACKING FOR BOTHGAMING AND NON-GAMING CASINO ACTIVITY” by Timothy Moser, filed on Jun.12, 2002.

This application incorporates by reference for all purposes U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/515,184, (Attorney Docket No.IGT1P266A/P-1085A), by Nguyen et al., entitled “INTELLIGENT CASINOGAMING TABLE AND SYSTEMS THEREOF”, filed on Sep. 1, 2006.

Although several preferred embodiments of this invention have beendescribed in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theseprecise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may beeffected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from thescope of spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A gaming table system comprising: at least one processor; at leastone interface operable to provide a communication link to at least oneother network device in a gaming network; and memory; the system beingoperable to: automatically detect a presence of a first player at afirst gaming table; automatically initiate at least one procedure forclosing a player rating session associated with the first player inresponse to a determination that a first set of criteria has beensatisfied; and automatically compute or determine player ratinginformation relating to the first player's player rating session,wherein the player rating information includes first player walk amountinformation relating to an estimate of wagering tokens belonging to thefirst player at a time of closing of the first player's player ratingsession.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the player rating informationfurther includes at least one type of information selected from a groupof information consisting of: first player game speed informationrelating to an estimated speed of game play by the first player at thefirst gaming table, and first player timing information relating to anestimated amount of time that the first player spent at the first gamingtable.
 3. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: automaticallydelay closing of the first player rating session in response to adetermination that the first set of criteria has not been satisfied. 4.The system of claim 1 being further operable to: identify one or morewagering tokens which are within a first region of personal spaceassociated with the first player; wherein the first region of personalspace includes at least one region which has not been allocated forwagering activity.
 5. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:identify one or more wagering tokens which are within a first region ofthe first gaming table; wherein the first region includes at least oneregion portion which has not been allocated for wagering activity. 6.The system of claim 1 being further operable to: identify a firstspatial region associated with the first player, wherein the firstspatial region includes a first region portion corresponding to awagering token placement area for use table game wagering, and includesa second region portion which is not used for table game wagering; andautomatically detect one or more wagering tokens located within thesecond region portion.
 7. The system of claim 1 being further operableto: automatically and passively associate the first player with aspecific player station at the first gaming table, the specific playerstation being associated with a first spatial region at the first gamingtable, the first spatial region including at least one region portionwhich has not been allocated for wagering activity; and automaticallyidentify wagering tokens located within the first spatial region at thefirst gaming table.
 8. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:automatically identify, as belonging to the first player, at least onewagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.9. The system of claim 1 being further operable to: identify one or morewagering tokens which are within a first region of personal spaceassociated with the first player; wherein the first region of personalspace is defined to include at least one zone of space which is notcurrently visible to an observer.
 10. The system of claim 1 beingfurther operable to: identify a first region of personal spaceassociated with the first player; wherein the first region of personalspace is defined to include at least one region portion which has notbeen allocated for wagering activity; and wherein the first region ofpersonal space is further defined to include at least one zone of spacewithin a predetermined distance from the first player.
 11. The system ofclaim 1 being further operable to: automatically and passively associatethe first player with a specific player station at the first gamingtable, the specific player station being associated with a first spatialregion at the first gaming table, the first spatial region including atleast one region portion which has not been allocated for wageringactivity identify a first region of personal space associated with thefirst player; wherein the first region of personal space is defined toinclude the first spatial region.
 12. The system of claim 1 beingfurther operable to: automatically track, in real time, informationrelating to a first portion of wagering tokens belonging to the firstplayer; wherein the first portion of wagering tokens includes at leastone wagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gamingtable.
 13. The system of claim 1 being further operable to perform atleast one operation selected from a group consisting of: automaticallytrack amounts wagered by the first player during game play at the firstgaming table; and automatically track winnings awarded to the firstplayer during game play at the first gaming table.
 14. The system ofclaim 1 being further operable to perform at least one operationselected from a group consisting of: automatically compute or determineplayer game speed information relating to a rate or speed of game playconducted at the first gaming table during a first time interval;automatically compute or determine player ranking information relatingto the first player using at least a portion of the player ratinginformation; automatically compute or determine player skill informationrelating to the first player using at least a portion of the playerrating information; and automatically compute or determine player compvalue information relating to the first player using at least a portionof the player rating information.
 15. The system of claim 1 beingfurther operable to perform at least one operation selected from a groupconsisting of: automatically track buy-in activity at the first gamingtable relating to the first player; automatically track marker-inactivity at the first gaming table relating to the first player;automatically track chips out activity at the first gaming tablerelating to the first player; and automatically track redemptionactivity at the first gaming table relating to the first player.
 16. Agaming table system comprising: at least one processor; at least oneinterface operable to provide a communication link to at least one othernetwork device in a gaming network; and memory; the system beingoperable to: automatically detect a presence of a first player at afirst gaming table; automatically perform at least one operationselected from a group consisting of: tracking buy-in activity at thefirst gaming table relating to the first player; tracking marker-inactivity at the first gaming table relating to the first player;tracking chips out activity at the first gaming table relating to thefirst player; and tracking redemption activity at the first gaming tablerelating to the first player.
 17. The system of claim 16 being furtheroperable to perform at least one operation selected from a groupconsisting of: automatically track amounts wagered by the first playerduring game play at the first gaming table; and automatically trackwinnings awarded to the first player during game play at the firstgaming table.
 18. The system of claim 16 being further operable toperform at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:automatically compute or determine player game speed informationrelating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first gamingtable during a first time interval; automatically compute or determineplayer ranking information relating to the first player using at least aportion of the player rating information; automatically compute ordetermine player skill information relating to the first player using atleast a portion of the player rating information; and automaticallycompute or determine player comp value information relating to the firstplayer using at least a portion of the player rating information.
 19. Amethod for facilitating player rating activities at a casino gamingtable, the method comprising: automatically detecting a presence of afirst player at a first gaming table; automatically initiating at leastone procedure for closing a player rating session associated with thefirst player in response to a determination that a first set of criteriahas been satisfied; and automatically computing or determining playerrating information relating to the first player's player rating session,wherein the player rating information includes first player walk amountinformation relating to an estimate of wagering tokens belonging to thefirst player at a time of closing of the first player's player ratingsession.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the player ratinginformation further includes at least one type of information selectedfrom a group of information consisting of: first player game speedinformation relating to an estimated speed of game play by the firstplayer at the first gaming table, and first player timing informationrelating to an estimated amount of time that the first player spent atthe first gaming table.
 21. The method of claim 19 further comprising:automatically delaying closing of the first player rating session inresponse to a determination that the first set of criteria has not beensatisfied.
 22. The method of claim 19 further comprising: identifyingone or more wagering tokens which are within a first region of personalspace associated with the first player; and wherein the first region ofpersonal space includes at least one region which has not been allocatedfor wagering activity.
 23. The method of claim 19 further comprising:identifying one or more wagering tokens which are within a first regionof the first gaming table; and wherein the first region includes atleast one region portion which has not been allocated for wageringactivity.
 24. The method of claim 19 further comprising: identifying afirst spatial region associated with the first player, wherein the firstspatial region includes a first region portion corresponding to awagering token placement area for use table game wagering, and includesa second region portion which is not used for table game wagering; andautomatically detecting one or more wagering tokens located within thesecond region portion.
 25. The method of claim 19 further comprising:automatically and passively associating the first player with a specificplayer station at the first gaming table, the specific player stationbeing associated with a first spatial region at the first gaming table,the first spatial region including at least one region portion which hasnot been allocated for wagering activity; and automatically identifyingwagering tokens located within the first spatial region at the firstgaming table.
 26. The method of claim 19 further comprising:automatically identifying, as belonging to the first player, at leastone wagering token located at a non-wagering area of the first gamingtable.
 27. The method of claim 19 further comprising: identifying one ormore wagering tokens which are within a first region of personal spaceassociated with the first player; wherein the first region of personalspace is defined to include at least one zone of space which is notcurrently visible to an observer.
 28. The method of claim 19 furthercomprising: identifying a first region of personal space associated withthe first player; wherein the first region of personal space is definedto include at least one region portion which has not been allocated forwagering activity; and wherein the first region of personal space isfurther defined to include at least one zone of space within apredetermined distance from the first player.
 29. The method of claim 19further comprising: automatically and passively associating the firstplayer with a specific player station at the first gaming table, thespecific player station being associated with a first spatial region atthe first gaming table, the first spatial region including at least oneregion portion which has not been allocated for wagering activityidentifying a first region of personal space associated with the firstplayer; wherein the first region of personal space is defined to includethe first spatial region.
 30. The method of claim 19 further comprising:automatically tracking, in real time, information relating to a firstportion of wagering tokens belonging to the first player; wherein thefirst portion of wagering tokens includes at least one wagering tokenlocated at a non-wagering area of the first gaming table.
 31. The methodof claim 19 further comprising performing at least one operationselected from a group consisting of: automatically tracking amountswagered by the first player during game play at the first gaming table;and automatically tracking winnings awarded to the first player duringgame play at the first gaming table.
 32. The method of claim 19 furthercomprising at least one operation selected from a group consisting of:automatically computing or determining player game speed informationrelating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at the first gamingtable during a first time interval; automatically computing ordetermining player ranking information relating to the first playerusing at least a portion of the player rating information; automaticallycomputing or determining player skill information relating to the firstplayer using at least a portion of the player rating information; andautomatically computing or determining player comp value informationrelating to the first player using at least a portion of the playerrating information.
 33. The method of claim 19 further comprising atleast one operation selected from a group consisting of: automaticallytracking buy-in activity at the first gaming table relating to the firstplayer; automatically tracking marker-in activity at the first gamingtable relating to the first player; automatically tracking chips outactivity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; andautomatically tracking redemption activity at the first gaming tablerelating to the first player.
 34. A method for facilitating playerrating activities at a casino gaming table, the method comprising:automatically detecting a presence of a first player at the first gamingtable; and automatically performing at least one operation selected froma group consisting of: tracking buy-in activity at the first gamingtable relating to the first player; tracking marker-in activity at thefirst gaming table relating to the first player; tracking chips outactivity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; andtracking redemption activity at the first gaming table relating to thefirst player.
 35. The method of claim 34 further comprising at least oneoperation selected from a group consisting of: automatically trackingamounts wagered by the first player during game play at the first gamingtable; and automatically tracking winnings awarded to the first playerduring game play at the first gaming table.
 36. The method of claim 34further comprising at least one operation selected from a groupconsisting of: automatically computing or determining player game speedinformation relating to a rate or speed of game play conducted at thefirst gaming table during a first time interval; automatically computingor determining player ranking information relating to the first playerusing at least a portion of the player rating information; automaticallycomputing or determining player skill information relating to the firstplayer using at least a portion of the player rating information; andautomatically computing or determining player comp value informationrelating to the first player using at least a portion of the playerrating information.
 37. A system for facilitating player ratingactivities at a casino gaming table, the method comprising: at least oneprocessor; memory; means for automatically detecting a presence of afirst player at a first gaming table; means for automatically initiatingat least one procedure for closing a player rating session associatedwith the first player in response to a determination that a first set ofcriteria has been satisfied; means for automatically computing ordetermining player rating information relating to the first player'splayer rating session, wherein the player rating information includesfirst player walk amount information relating to an estimate of wageringtokens belonging to the first player at a time of closing of the firstplayer's player rating session; means for automatically tracking buy-inactivity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; meansfor automatically tracking marker-in activity at the first gaming tablerelating to the first player; means for automatically tracking chips outactivity at the first gaming table relating to the first player; meansfor automatically tracking redemption activity at the first gaming tablerelating to the first player; and means for automatically identifying,as belonging to the first player, at least one wagering token located ata non-wagering area of the first gaming table. 38-64. (canceled)